Midnight Frenzy: Fans Flock to Get Their Hands on the Nintendo Switch 2
The hype is real. It’s past midnight, and I’m standing outside one of the many stores that threw open its doors just after the clock struck twelve. Why? Because the Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here, and gamers from all walks of life are scrambling to get their hands on it. This is more than just a console launch—it’s an event. A moment of gaming history unfolding right in front of us.
Retailers like Currys in the UK reported their biggest gaming pre-order event ever. We’re talking tens of thousands of units snapped up before launch, and the crowd tonight shows exactly why. Some lucky fans walked out with consoles in hand, while others picked up long-anticipated pre-orders. But not everything went smoothly—retailer Game, for instance, canceled some pre-orders last-minute, causing frustration among fans. Over in the U.S., Nintendo even paused pre-orders in April over tariff concerns before resuming them later. Still, none of that seems to have dimmed the excitement.
A major draw is Mario Kart World , a headline launch title for the Switch 2. It’s the first brand-new Mario Kart since 2014, and it’s already a hot topic—not just because of gameplay, but the price. £74.99 for a physical copy. That's around £15 more than most standard Switch titles. For many, like Tushar Sandarka, president of the University of York’s Mario Kart Society, the price is steep but justifiable. He says it’ll likely serve him well for nearly a decade. Others, like Mae and Lottie—both students—aren’t as convinced, calling it "quite spenny" and preferring to stick with the original Switch.
And then there’s the console itself. I had a chance to try it out, and it’s everything fans hoped for. A hybrid setup like the original, but better—bigger screen, brighter display, more power, and increased storage. There’s even a clever new feature where you can twist the controller sideways and use it like a mouse, a nod to PC-style gaming. Games like Civilization VII feel more intuitive and fluid.
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Yet, not all the major titles are ready for day one. Flagship franchises like Metroid Prime 4 , Super Mario Party Jamboree , and Donkey Kong: Bananza are still on the horizon. So for now, it’s Mario Kart World and a few upgraded re-releases— Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom among them—taking center stage.
What’s fascinating is Nintendo’s strategy. This is the first time they’ve launched a direct sequel to a console—keeping the “Switch” name intact. That clear continuity helps fans know exactly what they’re getting, according to gaming insiders. Pre-orders were chaos when they opened, but Nintendo seems to have learned from past mistakes and smoothed things out quickly.
Looking ahead, the potential is huge. With a more powerful machine, third-party developers are stepping in, bringing titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma to the mix. Nintendo might be entering more direct competition with giants like Sony and Microsoft, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing—it’s a new chapter.
As developers get more familiar with the hardware, we can expect even more impressive games in both graphics and gameplay. The Switch 2 isn’t just a next step—it might be a whole new level for Nintendo.
Is £75 the new normal for big-name games? That’s a debate for another time. But tonight? Tonight is about the magic of launch day, the joy of unboxing, and the thrill of being among the first to power up a brand-new Nintendo Switch 2.
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