Getting Nintendo Switch 2 Games Is Reportedly Harder Than Buying The Console Itself
Uncertainty still surrounds the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 in the United States, but it may not be difficult for those with the financial means to get their hands on the console, though the games to play on it are another story. The PlayStation 5 was notoriously difficult to get in 2020 and 2021 due to a global chip shortage, and while scalpers remain a concern, there are reportedly plenty of Switch 2s to go around.
According to Nintendeal on Twitter, each GameStop location is expecting to have roughly 100 Switch 2 consoles available for purchase on release day. While the console itself may not be terribly difficult to acquire, the games and accessories will reportedly have "extremely limited" quantities available. This means Mario Kart World, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, and the Switch 2 Pro Controller may be in short supply on June 5.
Switch 2 Game Shortage Will Only Affect Physical Copies
Accessories May Have To Wait
Any shortage of Switch 2 games at the console's launch will primarily affect those who prefer to purchase physical games. There are more than 20 games set to release alongside the Switch 2, and all of them will conceivably be available on the console's eShop. Any sort of shortage will only affect their physical counterparts, which are steadily being overtaken by digital purchases in recent years. Aside from collectors, those with slower internet connections will be the most put out, since some games, like Cyberpunk 2077 and Hogwarts Legacy on Switch 2, are expected to be dozens of gigabytes.
The reported difficulty in buying Switch 2 accessories is arguably more concerning. The Switch 2 Pro Controller and its headphone jack would be a nice luxury to have, but is not a necessity. Purchasing an additional pair of Joy-Con 2 controllers, however, may be on the launch day wishlist for anyone hoping to play the new party games, like Mario Kart World, with more than two players.
Reports Suggest Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Won't Repeat PS5 Woes
Plenty Of Stock & Pre-Orders Through Nintendo
While the Nintendeals report hasn't been cooperated in any official capacity, the numbers are promising with regard to ease of access to the Switch 2 at launch. As YouTuber Jake Randall notes in the replies on Twitter, the reported number of Switch 2 consoles available is much more than the PlayStation 5's launch, but not as many as some stores had for their PS5 restocks. The PS5 was hampered by the global chip shortage that stemmed from COVID-19's disruption of global supply chains, which affected electronics at large, not just in the gaming industry.
Manufacturing the Switch 2 is conceivably easier now that the shortage is over, but the demand for the new console is still likely to outstrip the supply. An average of 100 Switch 2 units per store on launch day – assuming other retailers have a similar supply, and said average is weighted for each location's population – will likely make it easier to acquire the console than the scramble for the PS5. Signing up through Nintendo's pre-order system is also a major factor favoring those who already have Nintendo Switch Online accounts, meaning many will likely be able to reserve their Nintendo Switch 2 before scalpers disrupt the market regardless of the games and accessories shortage.
Source: Nintendeal/Twitter, Jake Randall/Twitter
- Brand
- Nintendo
- Original Release Date
- June 5, 2025
- Original MSRP (USD)
- $449.99
- Operating System
- Proprietary
- Storage
- 256GB internal / MicroSD
- Resolution
- 1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)
The Nintendo Switch 2 is the successor to Nintendo Switch, scheduled for release in 2025. Confirmed as backwards compatible, it will play both physical and digital Nintendo Switch games. A full reveal is pencilled in for April 2, 2025.
