Fans around the world queue up in long lines for the highly anticipated
Nintendo Switch 2 launch
[June 06, 2025] By
AYAKA McGILL
TOKYO (AP) — Throngs of gamers stood in long lines outside of stores
hours before they opened Thursday from Tokyo to New York City in hopes
of snaring a long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2 video game console.
Enthusiasts have been clamoring for an upgrade to Nintendo's
eight-year-old predecessor for years. Nintendo, which is counting on the
Switch 2 to boost sagging sales, has added new social features meant to
lure players into online gaming.
The much anticipated Switch 2, being released around the world Thursday,
is an upgrade to its eight-year-old predecessor with new social features
meant to draw players into online gaming. Nintendo is counting on the
Switch 2 to boost sagging sales.
In the U.S., a chaotic pre-order process in April left some fans
frustrated after the consoles quickly sold out. People lined up early
Thursday at stores in hopes of buying one.
“I'm just rolling the dice here,” said Edgar Huo, who was in a line of
about 25 outside of a Target in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan,
New York. Many of those waiting for the store to open had ordered
online, but a few like Huo hoped for a chance at purchasing any extra
inventory the store had.
In Japan, the new consoles were sold through a competitive lottery
system that Nintendo said got about 2.2 million applications.
Outside the official draw, some retailers offered their own lotteries to
pre-order the devices.
Koji Takahashi was among those who missed out on the official draw but
he was selected in the second round of a lottery held by a major
electronics retailer in Japan.
He was first in line waiting outside the store, arriving four hours
ahead of its opening. He hoped to secure a limited supply of Nintendo
accessories to buy along with his pre-ordered Switch 2.
“I feel very sorry for those who weren’t successful in the lottery. But
I also had tough time getting this far, so I hope they forgive me!”
Takahashi said.
Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser told CBS Morning Plus today
that the company is aware of the demand for its newest system and is
working to get units into the hands of customers.
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People wait in line outside the Nintendo store in New York's
Rockefeller Center, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
 “We have a steady supply of
manufacturing that will be coming in, and we believe we’ll be able
to meet that demand all the way through the summer, through Father’s
Day and then on into the holiday period also,” Bowser said.
The new console comes with a larger and higher resolution screen
than its predecessor, with improved processing power, offering
smoother and more vivid graphics. Central to its updated system is a
new “C” button on its controller, which will launch a “GameChat”
feature that requires a subscription to Nintendo’s Switch online
service. It allows players to “communicate with friends and family
while playing a game,” and lets them share their game screen with
others. A built-in microphone will also allow chatting with other
gamers.
Nintendo has said it expects to sell 15 million Switch 2 consoles
for the fiscal year through March 2026.
The company also rolled out new Switch 2 editions for two of its
popular “Legend of Zelda” games. A Pokemon title and a Kirby game
are also coming, as well as offerings from outside video game
publishers.
The Switch 2’s rollout arrives at an uncertain time for much of the
gaming industry due to new tariffs implemented by U.S. President
Donald Trump.
In the U.S., the Switch 2’s baseline launch price is $449.99 —
significantly higher than the original Switch’s $299 price tag.
U.S. preorders for the Switch 2 were delayed for several weeks so
the company could assess the potential impact of tariffs.
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