Nintendo starts sending out Switch 2 pre-order invitations to registered U.S. gamers

U.S. gamers knew that Nintendo would send emails to qualified gamers on May 8th. Still, the exact time buyers could secure a Switch 2 pre-order was unknown. It appears that invitation emails are now rolling out to select gamers. However, as has been common throughout the pre-order process, there remains confusion about supply and shipping options.

At the moment, only a relatively small number of posters on the ResetEra forums and various subreddits have received an email. This trend might indicate that Nintendo will continue to invite gamers throughout the day, or the stock levels of consoles are more limited than expected. Nintendo has already stated that there may not be enough handhelds for all gamers on the June 5th Switch 2 release date.

Fortunate buyers granted invites from Nintendo have shared copies of the emails. Nothing in the communication is unexpected, with gamers having 72 hours to finalize their purchases. Before the Switch 2 pre-order cycle opened, Nintendo clarified what buyers qualified. The company prefers 12+ month Nintendo Switch Online subscribers with 50+ hours of playtime. Even gamers who meet these criteria aren't guaranteed an invite to order the console on Nintendo's Store.

On social media, retail tracker Wario64 advised that gamers waiting for an email should check Nintendo's site. Any gamer that Nintendo selects may be able to check out immediately.

One unwelcome surprise for buyers is the delivery options. Free standard shipping estimates delivery within 3-9 business days. Depending on when the order ships, the console could arrive after the Switch 2 release date. Even the paid options estimate delivery times within 2-3 days. While Switch 2 pre-order chaos has plagued retailers like Best Buy and GameStop, gamers expect to have their consoles on June 5th.