Target and Walmart Cancel Switch 2 Orders but Hope People Mob Stores on June 5

The Switch 2 is due in two days. If you were one of the few lucky enough to preorder Nintendo’s new handheld console over a month ago, and you haven’t been checking in on your order, you better do so now. Multiple Nintendo fans reported receiving cancellation notices from big box stores Target and Walmart. The companies’ communications with customers suggest the quashed preorders could be down to lack of available units or system errors.

Preorders were already a mess back in April, but those who suffered through broken websites and busted wait queues found their orders cancelled barely a week before launch. Some accounts that claimed they preordered their Switch 2 online suggest both Target and Walmart have nixed their preorder with little explanation. One Redditor on the r/Switch subreddit included screenshots showing the retailer cancelled their order on May 27. Other users on the same subreddit claimed Target may not be able to ship units until June 10, five days after launch.

More expectant Switch 2 customers on the r/Walmart and r/Switch subreddits said the retailer cancelled their preorders as well. One customer on X posted screenshots of their conversations with Walmart support. Walmart’s initial email said it canceled the preorder due to “an issue with your card.” When the user suggested they didn’t receive any notice their transaction was declined, Walmart support wrote back, “The order has been canceled due to a large number of orders.”

absolutely insane of @Walmart to cancel my Switch 2 preorder that I preordered the night it went live because of a large number of orders. Meanwhile multiple times sold more on their site, but I guess had to cancel mine that I had planned to receive lol pic.twitter.com/IjAfJ0jWff

— Rooster (@MechaPaddington) May 31, 2025

Gizmodo reached out to both Target and Walmart for comment about the cancelled preorders, but we did not immediately hear back. Switch 2s have been hard to come by, even though some retailers have reportedly offered more units for sale intermittently over the past few weeks. So far, Best Buy and GameStop have received far fewer complaints online. GameStop went as far as to snipe at other retailers, replying with a curt “not us” statement in response to reports of last-minute cancellations. The games retailer received at least one clapback from a user who claimed the company nixed their preorder.

Some users spotted a “Customer Reconciliation” Switch 2 unit available on Walmart’s website, which may be how the company plans to rectify cancelled orders. One user on the same thread reported getting an email saying the cancelled preorder was down to a “system error.” Even with this rash of cancellations, Walmart is still suggesting customers will be able to get one either in-store June 5. The company told Gizmodo on Monday that those who placed preorders should receive them by 9 a.m. local time on June 5. Walmart added it would open doors to its west coast U.S. supercenters on June 4 at 9 p.m., 10 p.m. MDT and have consoles available “while supplies last.” Some locations may have more stock than others.

Target similarly shared its plans for release. The company wants hungry Switch 2 buyers to start lining up “before stores open on June 5” where the first lucky people in line who suffer in the cold morning air will receive a physical or digital ticket, depending on how many units are available. There’s a limit of one system per customer. Otherwise, if you want to order the handheld online, you’ll need to wait until June 6.

Best Buy is planning for its own hectic midnight release. The electronics retailer is trying to incentivize customers to come down by offering them a “limited-edition commemorative coin” with a bland Switch 2 logo on one side and Best Buy’s icon on the other. GameStop locations will be opening their doors at 3 p.m. local time on June 4 for its new launch event, though you’ll have to wait until midnight to get your unit.

Those looking for a different strat to secure their console on launch day may want to look outside the (big) box (store). Office supply chain Staples told us it will have units in-store “as early as June 5.” There’s a limit of one console per customer, and only specific locations will have consoles available, though the retailer suggested that some locations may not have units on launch day. All this hubbub is enough to suggest you may be better off waiting for more stock. Nintendo has suggested it’s going into overdrive to make more units available post-launch.