Summary
- GameStop is investigating claims that it was promoting custom Nintendo Switch 2 bundles during pre-orders.
- Pre-order events led to website crashes at Walmart, Target, and Best Buy.
- GameStop is encouraging affected customers to reach out via direct message.
In response to accusations of upselling custom bundles during pre-orders, GameStop has confirmed it is reviewing the matter. The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to launch on June 5, with many customers already securing their pre-orders across various retailers. Pre-ordering for the Switch 2 has been quite chaotic, resulting in the crashing of Walmart, Target, and Best Buy websites. On April 25, Walmart’s pre-order page for the Switch 2 was removed without explanation, but numerous consumers managed to successfully place orders despite the technical difficulties.
In a recent post on Twitter, Elea Tsentzelis mentioned that after GameStop’s pre-orders for the Switch 2 began at 11 AM on April 24, one location was trying to sell custom bundles of the console to customers in line. Although this did not affect their decision to buy the system, they observed that some potential buyers left the line due to the upselling practices. Many considered this approach by GameStop to be questionable, especially as the only official bundle from Nintendo includes a digital copy of Mario Kart World with the console.
GameStop responded via its Twitter handle, reassuring customers that they are actively looking into these allegations. The company also urged anyone who experienced such an incident to contact them directly through DM to address the matters appropriately. Fortunately, feedback indicates that this issue isn’t commonplace; many GameStop locations have continued with standard offerings of just the console and the Mario Kart World bundle.
Despite some controversies around pre-orders and game launches, fans remain optimistic about the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.
