Nintendo Switch 2 defies expectations with 'positively chaotic' launch day demand

Nintendo’s highly anticipated Switch 2 console went on sale Thursday and sold out within minutes in global markets in what was a “positively chaotic” launch for the company’s next-generation gaming system. 

Fans flooded stores across cities in New York and Tokyo as stores struggled to keep up with pent-up demand for the new console. According to gaming console KOLs, there’s more than likely to be a Switch 2 supply crunch that may last weeks or even months.

At GameStop Corp.’s Union Square location in New York City, gamers began lining up nearly 20 hours in advance, with the first arrivals staking out their spots as early as 4:30 a.m. Another snaking line was seen at the Nintendo Store uptown. 

In Japan, Tokyo’s Ikebukuro shopping district, dozens of customers who had secured a purchase through a lottery system stood in line at electronics retailer Bic Camera to collect their consoles.

“I feel like I’m going to cry,” said Yumi Ohi, a 30-year-old delivery contractor from Saitama prefecture, who had lost previous lotteries before finally securing her Switch 2. 

Nintendo’s original Switch console, which debuted in 2017 and sold over 152 million units globally, alongside hit franchises like “The Legend of Zelda” and the pandemic-era favorite “Animal Crossing: New Horizons.”

Console supply shortage affects millions globally

Retailers in both the US and Japan had expected the demand for the Switch 2 to be inordinate, but were left in shock after thousands of customers lined up before stores had opened. 

“Line of people waiting to get Switch 2 but people online say nobody cares about Switch 2 and how it’s gonna flop,” said one Zelda fan on X, sharing a video of a long line of customers waiting for GameStop stores to open.

Nintendo had instituted a lottery system in Japan to manage the chaos, with over 2.2 million people applying. Only a fraction were able to purchase the device on release day.

“The level of demand seems to be sky-high,” said Serkan Toto, founder of the Tokyo-based games consultancy Kantan Games. “You are looking at weeks or months until you can walk into a store and buy a Switch 2.”

Switch 2 ‘early success’ similar to the first

The $499.99 Switch 2 is a determining release for Nintendo, as it is the company’s first major hardware refresh in years. Analysts view the launch as a test of the company’s manufacturing and logistics resilience, especially during a period of “hot heads” from the trade war initiated under the US President Donald Trump against China.

The Switch 2 retains the hybrid home-portable design of its predecessor but introduces a larger screen and significantly improved graphics. On social media, those who were lucky to get their hands on the tech have shared clips playing titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Bayonetta 3, and Hyrule Warriors, all at 60 frames per second.

Cyberpunk 2077 running on switch 2. Looks sharp, runs smooth and the all the content is complete on one cartridge. pic.twitter.com/3FGPXgZErW

— Mutahar (@OrdinaryGamers) June 5, 2025

New features include upgraded processing speeds, magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers with mouse-like functionality, and direct integration with Nintendo Switch Online, which grants users access to a library of classic titles and enables online game sharing with friends.

The system is also backward-compatible, so users can play existing Nintendo Switch games on the new hardware.

Among the launch titles is “Mario Kart World,” retailing for $79.99 in the US, a price that gamers were not happy with. Yet for some customers, the premium is justifiable.

“I’ve been around since the Super Nintendo era,” said Akitomo Takahashi, a salesman in his forties. “Games from that period were expensive too, so I think it’s somewhat within the acceptable range.”

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