Minutes after U.S. preorders for the Nintendo Switch 2 began at midnight on Thursday, chaos took over the internet. By late morning, GameStop’s website had crashed under the weight of overwhelming traffic, with users flooding the platform in hopes of securing the next-generation console.
The spike in online searches reflected the frenzy. Keywords like “gamestop website down,” “gamestop crashed,” “gamestop down,” “gamestop twitter” and “nintendo switch 2 order” all trended on Google, as consumers encountered frozen screens, error messages, and empty shopping carts.
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GameStop’s official X account (formerly Twitter) acknowledged the issue shortly after 11:30 a.m. ET, stating: “We’re seeing overwhelming demand for Switch 2, which is causing some site issues.” The company reassured users that in-store preorders were “open and running smoothly,” but for many eager buyers, that did little to ease the frustration.
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What caused the Nintendo Switch 2 preorder chaos?
Demand for the Switch 2 has been monumental. Touted as a massive upgrade over the original model, the console features a larger screen, interactive chat capabilities, and a lineup of exclusive new titles, including Mario Kart World. The launch officially set for June 5, has already drawn global attention, with Nintendo fans rushing online for first dibs.
In a statement shared via its official My Nintendo Store, the company acknowledged experiencing exceptionally high web traffic. Nintendo noted that it is “working hard to process orders as inventory becomes available.” However, it also warned that deliveries by the official launch date of June 5 could not be guaranteed, encouraging customers to check with authorized retailers for availability.
How did GameStop handle the Switch 2 preorder launch?
Unlike other retailers that launched at midnight, GameStop waited until 11 a.m. ET to go live with preorders. But within minutes, the listing vanished. Users reported site outages and slow loading speeds, prompting the surge in search terms like “gamestop website down.”
The Associated Press reached out to GameStop for comments. As of now, GameStop has not clarified how many units were available for online preorder, nor whether additional waves will be launched in the coming days.
What does this mean for international markets like Mexico?
While U.S. gamers wrestle with system glitches and preorder caps, the Mexican market is facing another hurdle: sky-high prices. According to official listings:
- The standard Nintendo Switch 2 console will retail for MXN $13,599 (around USD $710).
- A bundle with Mario Kart World will cost MXN $14,899 (around USD $760).
This represents a significant markup compared to the U.S. base price. Additionally, one of the versions being offered will only allow access to free-to-play games, such as Fortnite, unless users purchase additional software.
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