Major UK retailer cancels Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders days before launch

It’s gone from hype to headache for some fans. With the Nintendo Switch 2 launching in a matter of days, UK retailer Game has abruptly cancelled a number of pre-orders, leaving customers scrambling just days before release. The company has apologised and says “it’s working to reinstate as many orders as possible”, but hasn’t provided a reason for the cancellations.

If you pre-ordered through Game, you should check your order status now, and if you’re now scrambling to find a new preorder, you’ll need to move fast. Stock is still trickling out in waves and selling out within minutes, and the window to receive a console on release day is starting to close.

The cancellations come as Game continues to scale back its UK presence. Since being bought by Frasers Group, most standalone shops have shut down, with the remaining ones folded into Sports Direct and House of Fraser branches. In April, the company also closed its Basingstoke head office and warehouse, auctioning off equipment and fittings.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. The console is back in stock at Amazon, and Smyths Toys has announced it will open at midnight at all UK shops on 5 June, with click-and-collect pre-orders ready from 12:01am and limited walk-in stock available too. A handful of branches – including Boucher Road (Belfast), Glasgow, Stockport, Romford and Hull will open even earlier at 11pm on 4 June for demo events, where the first 100 fans can try Mario Kart World before launch and bag a free goodie bag.

If you’re still hoping to pre-order or grab a console on launch day, I’m rounding up all the retailers with live stock below, plus the best accessories and bundles to pair with your new console. This page is constantly updated with the latest drops.

Where to pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2 in the UK

The Switch 2 keeps the same hybrid design as the original. You can play it handheld or dock it to your TV, but there are some improvements to the hardware.

The new Switch has a bigger 7.9in HDR-ready LCD screen, 256GB of internal storage, and improved performance. The big change is a new pair of magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers. Unlike the original Switch, these new Joy-Cons can be used like computer mice, offering new ways to play and interact with the console.

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The standalone Nintendo Switch 2 console includes everything you need to get going. It comes with the console, the dock, a pair of Joy-Con 2 controllers, and a grip that turns the controllers into a single pad for comfort.

It’s backwards compatible with your existing Switch library, and now supports 4K output when docked. In our hands-on preview, The Independent’s Steve Hogarty called it “a different beast entirely”, praising the performance, visuals, and the Joy-Con 2’s mouse-style control trick.

Right now, the standalone console is coming in and out of stock at the My Nintendo Store, though you’ll need an active Switch Online membership (was £6.99, now £5.99, Cdkeys.com) to secure it. If you don’t mind pre-ordering a bundle, you can also pick up a console from Currys.

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Nintendo’s official Switch 2 bundle includes everything you get with the standalone console (the device, Joy-Con 2 controllers, grip, dock and cables) plus a digital download code for Mario Kart World. The game normally costs £79.99, so you save about £40 by picking up the bundle instead.

In our hands-on preview, The Independent’s Steve Hogarty called Mario Kart World “the most exciting” of the new titles. “It’s absolutely massive,” he wrote, praising the expanded roster, new vehicle types, and the game’s ability to let players drift across water, not just under it as in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. He also said Mario Kart “looks spectacular on the big screen,” especially when docked and running in 4K at 120Hz.

Right now, the official Mario Kart World bundle is coming in and out of stock at the Amazon and the My Nintendo Store, though you’ll need an active Switch Online membership to purchase it (was £6.99, now £5.99, Cdkeys.com). Don’t have a Switch Online account? Currys also has one bundle in stock.

Best Nintendo Switch 2 bundles

But that’s not all. Other retailers are offering the Switch 2 as part of bigger launch bundles, with some retailers packaging the console alongside extra Joy-Cons, charging docks, the new Switch 2 camera and additional games. Right now, Currys is the only retailer with the Nintendo Switch 2 in stock, though it is part of a bigger, more expensive bundle.

Currys Nintendo Switch 2 bundles

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Currys doesn’t have the standalone Switch 2 console or the official Mario Kart World bundle in stock, but it’s offering one larger bundle with added extras. It includes Mario Kart World, Street Fighter 6, the Switch 2 camera, a microSD Express memory card, a carrying case and a screen protector for £579. It’s available for home delivery on release day, but it can’t be collected in-store.

Best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories and games

Now that you’ve successfully pre-ordered a Nintendo Switch 2, you’re probably looking to grab some accessories and new games to go with it. Nintendo is also selling extra storage, charging grips, Joy-Con 2 controllers, and the Switch 2 camera. Donkey Kong Bananza, which is releasing in July, is also available to pre-order.

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The only other Switch 2 exclusive other than Mario Kart World is Donkey Kong Bananza. Launching on 17 July, Bananza is a fresh 3D platformer with a twist. As The Independent’s Steve Hogarty wrote in his hands-on preview, “you can punch holes through rock to burrow a path toward your objective and pick up chunks of earth to hurl at enemies, leaving gaping, permanent holes in the landscape as you smash your way around levels”. The result is a game that feels part Minecraft, part classic Donkey Kong, with a fully destructible world that encourages chaotic exploration.

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The redesigned Switch 2 Pro Controller sees some big improvements over the original Switch Pro controller. It’s a more traditional-looking gaming pad with better thumbsticks, extra durability, a new button for multiplayer social features, added shoulder buttons, and improved rumble effects.

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The Switch 2 camera lets you video chat with friends during multiplayer games. A few launch titles make use of it too, like Super Mario Party Jamboree, where it lets you appear inside minigames to balance Goombas on your head and sing karaoke songs with friends.

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The Switch 2 comes with 256GB of internal storage. This can quickly fill up with downloaded games, so it’s worth investing in some added storage. Nintendo’s official SanDisk microSD card comes with another 256GB of storage, with fast read and write speeds that work seamlessly with the Switch 2.

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Exclusive to the My Nintendo Store, the GameCube controller brings a touch of nostalgia to your console setup. Whether you’re revisiting classics or just prefer the old-school layout, it’s a must-have for long-time Nintendo fans.

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This official My Nintendo Store exclusive is designed to hold everything you need for TV-mode play, including the Switch 2 console, the dock, Joy-Con 2 controllers, various cables, and up to six game cards. Its structured interior keeps your gear secure and organised, making it ideal for travel or tidy storage at home.

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Don’t need an entire travel kit? The official option from Nintendo includes a screen protector and cleaning cloth, with room inside for up to six game cards and two Joy-Con 2 straps.

Can’t make up your mind? Have a read of our preview of the Nintendo Switch 2