Switch 2: What time will preorders start, how to qualify on Amazon and Nintendo, price and UK stock levels

Nintendo Switch 2 UK release date

Switch 2 preorders will begin in the UK on April 8, 2025.

Over the weekend, Nintendo confirmed plans to suspend preorders for the Switch 2 in the United States temporarily due to the uncertainty caused by the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Preorder will go ahead as planned in the UK, Europe, and Asia.

The feverishly anticipated new Nintendo console could spark a buying frenzy, with some retailers already removing preorder listings after selling out of their initial stock allocation before the sale even started. ShopTo was offering a chance to secure a spot in the queue for 1p — with the rest of the balance due when stock became available, but the popular UK retailer has since removed the listing from its website.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is priced at £395.99 for the console alone, while the bundle with Mario Kart World costs £429.99.

The bundle — a limited-time offer that Nintendo will revoke at an unspecified date in the autumn — represents significant savings compared to buying the game separately, which costs £66.99 when downloaded from the Nintendo eShop or £74.99 for the physical version.

• Shop digital Switch 2 games from Nintendo

Nintendo Switch 2 UK release time

Preorders will start April 8, but the exact time hasn't been confirmed yet. It's possible that orders will begin from 00.01am. However, industry watchers expect Nintendo to start taking orders at a more sociable time — first thing in the morning.

Some retailers will charge your chosen payment method with the full amount as soon as you place a preorder. For example, Argos require full payment upfront when placing your pre-order as well as a £6.95 delivery fee.

Others, like Amazon, will only charge you when the item is dispatched — in the days before the June 5 release date. That might be something to take into consideration if you need a little more time to finish saving up for this new console, which is priced much closer to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X than its predecessor.

Switch 2 UK stock levels

A slew of UK retailers have already opened pre-orders ahead of the official date, with varying levels of availability. ShopTo and Argos were some of the first stores to offer preorders, with both the standard console and Mario Kart World bundle available on their websites.

However, both of these retailers have since sold out — with no sign of new consoles incoming at the moment.

Very UK and Smyths Toys briefly had stock available, but quickly sold out of their initial allocation. Likewise, mobile network EE has listed the console on its store with a warning that "sorry, this one’s gone for now".

At the time of writing, GAME is still taking preorders for the Switch 2 console. The company does not offer click-and-collect, with a £9.99 next-day delivery fee. However, it does offer some flexible payment plans, with £0 upfront to pay today.

Amazon UK has implemented an invite system where customers can request to be notified when pre-orders become available. If you're sent an invite to preorder the console — the link will only be valid for 22 hours. These links could be sent at any moment between now and the release of the console on June 5, depending on the allocation of games consoles sent to Amazon by Nintendo.

The retailer offers a preorder price guarantee, meaning you'll only be charged the lowest price advertised between placing your preorder and release. With the amount of interest in the Switch 2, we can't imagine a generous price cut coming to this console anytime.

While the Switch 2 standalone console still allows shoppers to request an invite on Amazon, the Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle is sold out. "Currently unavailable," Amazon warns. "We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock."

HMV briefly had a pre-order page available which has since disappeared, but it's worth checking back regularly. Currys is encouraging customers to visit their local stores to place pre-orders, rather than offering online ordering initially.

John Lewis has product pages ready but hasn't yet opened orders to the public.

Stock levels are fluctuating rapidly across all retailers, so it's worth checking regularly.

Nintendo's official online store — My Nintendo Store — hopes to avoid scalpers snatching up the limited stock and reselling consoles online with eye-watering markups by prioritising loyal customers through an invite-only system when preorders open on April 8, 2025.

To qualify, you'll need to have been a Nintendo Switch Online subscriber for at least two years continuously by March 31, 2025. Your gameplay hours on purchased Switch games will also be considered, with priority given to those with higher playtimes.

You must have opted in to share usage information with Nintendo and receive promotional emails.

• 5 conditions you MUST meet before you can preorder Switch 2 from Nintendo

If you have a family membership, only the person who purchased it will be eligible for an invite. Invitations will be valid for 72 hours once received. Check your inbox — and Junk folders — regularly to see if you've made the cut. According to posts on social media, Nintendo has already started to reach-out to some of its most passionate Switch console owners with a link to preorder its successor.

Nintendo has indicated that selection criteria may be lowered over time if you don't receive an invite in the first wave.

Preorders launching tomorrow is widely expected to trigger significant demand, so having multiple options (in separate tabs) is crucial.

If you're determined to secure a Switch 2, consider setting up accounts with several retailers today and enabling email notifications. Be prepared to act quickly when you receive any pre-order invitations, as most will expire within 24 — 72 hours.

Remember that while some retailers require immediate payment, others won't charge until the console ships in June. Good luck!