With the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct just days away, U.S. retailers are readying their pre-order plans for what will undoubtedly be one of the biggest gaming events of the year. While Nintendo will likely reveal the launch details on April 2nd, Insider-Gaming has gotten hold of a large U.S. retailer's plans for the Switch 2.
According to the leaked document, Switch 2 pre-orders will go live on April 9th, one week after the direct presentation. Interestingly, this date is different from the one posted by Best Buy Canada.
Earlier this week, Best Buy Canada accidentally set live its pre-order guide for the Switch 2, revealing that pre-orders for the console will open up on April 2nd, the same day as the Switch 2. The page has since been taken down, and it's possible that the date was merely a placeholder.
In addition to revealing the new pre-order date, the document also lays out pre-order plans, including messaging strategy. Following the Direct presentation, the plans call for "Pre-Order Coming Soon" messaging and a Countdown Clock that ends on April 9th, with an exact time to be confirmed by Nintendo on April 2nd.
Lastly, it seems Nintendo will be giving away a memento for those who pre-order the console. The document includes details about an exclusive collectible coin for anyone who pre-orders the console.
At this point, it's all but confirmed that launch information for the Nintendo Switch will be shared on April 2nd. The big question now is when exactly pre-orders will open. Regardless of which leak you believe, it feels pretty certain that pre-orders will go live within at least a week of the Direct.
One thing the document doesn't reveal is a release date. We're hopeful that Nintendo will provide a launch date for the Switch 2 during the Direct. In the meantime, there is also plenty of speculation and rumors swirling around the internet. The general consensus is that the console will launch at some point within the next couple of months and not later this year during the holiday season. Sources speaking at GDC have seemingly indicated a June release date for the Switch 2 along with a 3-phase launch for its games. Again, this hasn't been confirmed; it's just speculation and rumor.
The Switch 2 was officially announced in January with a reveal trailer that highlighted a larger screen than its predecessor and some intriguing new features that we can't wait to learn more about. Thankfully, we are just days away now.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct is scheduled for Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at 6:00 a.m. PDT.