MAJOR retail websites have completely crashed as shoppers rush to buy one highly anticipated product.
In a moment of poor timing, the sheer amount of desire for the pricey piece of tech has toppled multiple websites run by the US’ biggest stores.
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Fans and gamers alike have been itching to get their hands on the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-sale, per the Daily Mail.
It’s one of the most highly sought after items dropping this year, and Trump’s tariffs have already delayed it.
The same day that the gaming powerhouse announced the flashy new console, April 2, Trump launched his liberation day tariffs that sent the world economy into a tailspin.
Now, as the pre-sale for the machine arrives, multiple websites have crashed as thousands clamor for a pre-order.
read more on websites crashing
Target, Walmart and Best Buy have all experienced massive online crashes, which has left shoppers stranded on one of the busiest shopping days of 2025.
As gamers saw the clock strike midnight they rushed online, but immediacy found websites in meltdown.
GAMER OVER
Downdetector, which monitors online outages, reported more than 2,520 complaints from Target customers when the sale launched.
At the same time, Walmart shoppers first began reporting website issues not long after 8pm with just under 1,500 reports of its own.
And Best Buy saw a continuous rise across the evening of shoppers reporting problems between 9pm and 1am.
At its worst, some fans say that the websites were not even giving them the chance to pore-order the machine.
Naturally, gamers in the US were thrown into disrepair, with many using their time in between website crashes to share their pain on social media.
One person said: “Which best buy employee forgot to change the button for the pre orders for switch 2?”
Another complained: “Best Buy didn’t open their preorders for the Switch 2 on time… and they instead waited until I was away for my computer to open them, so now I’m stuck in a long line.”
And a third said: “So Best Buy, after telling me not to leave the page, just closed the “you’re in line” box without letting me do anything.”
One person on X even said that they failed to get a confirmation email after being told they had gotten a preorder.
It made the tense situation that much more confusing.
The posted: “When Target website confirms your Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order but still hasn’t sent you a confirmation email.”
BACK ONLINE
Eventually, reports began to emerge of the lucky few breaking through and being able to submit a pre-order.
And the joy was palpable.
One elated gamer said: “I GOT ONE YESSSS! Nintendo Switch 2 Here we go baby!”
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
Some Walmart shoppers bemoaned that they were not being let past the AI verification tool, either.
There are no current reports that all of the issues have been fixed. and it is unknown how much longer sites will be struggling with the traffic.
It means that untold numbers are still waiting patiently for their chance to unlock the next era of gaming.
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