WALMART and Best Buy have been forced to change their store opening hours as a viral product launch has led to shortages and product limits.
Nintendo’s Switch 2 hit the shelves on Thursday – with fans so excited for the release that retailers have had to accommodate shoppers.
GettyWalmart changed its opening hours[/caption] AlamyBest Buy is selling the Nintendo Switch 2[/caption] Shutterstock EditorialThe Nintendo Switch 2 has hit the shelves[/caption]George Jijiashvili, senior principal analyst at Omdia, told CNBC: “Today is the biggest console launch of all time, so as expected, there is a frenzy of Nintendo fans checking stock availabilities at their local stores or eagerly awaiting deliveries.”
Best Buy opened various stores across the US at midnight on Thursday for in-store purchases.
Best Buy has also said it has a limited number of consoles, games and accessories available for walk-in customers.
And Walmart said it was opening orders at midnight ET online, alongside in store at Supercenters at 6am ET.
Currently, Walmart’s website shows the highly sought after console as being sold out.
President of Nintendo of America Doug Bowser also told CNBC that the company has been working with “retail partners to ensure there’s ample supply for not only the launch weekend, but well beyond”.
Due to President Donald Trump‘s “reciprocal tariffs,” Nintendo had to delay preorders for the Switch 2 in April.
The Switch 2 sells for $449 in the US, making it the most expensive console made by Nintendo so far.
The company’s Bowser said it was to “monitor where tariffs are going” before making decisions on whether to raise prices.
He added: “The price that you see right now is the price that you can be expecting in the future. Of course, tariffs could change that in the future”
Nintendo is expecting to sell 20 million consoles by the end of the financial year.
The Nintendo Switch was first released back in 2017, to replace the WII U.
Gaming fans have had to wait eight years for the new upgraded console.
The Nintendo Switch 2 will have a bigger screen, brand new games, and more built in features.
Nintendo Switch vs Switch Lite – what's the difference?
Here’s what you need to know…
The Nintendo Switch Lite doesn’t plug into your television – it’s handheld-only Its Joy-Con controls aren’t detachable, and are built into the handset’s body There’s no TV docking station, so you’ll charge your device using a cable Some games will have restrictions, due to the console being handheld-only There are three new colours: yellow, grey and turquoise The Switch Lite is $100 / £100 cheaper than the Switch proper Read More Details
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