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Nintendo Preps Stores for Switch 2 Stock Shortages

by Claire Oct 12,2025

Nintendo Preps Stores for Switch 2 Stock Shortages

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Nintendo has reportedly started distributing Switch 2 "Out of Stock" signage to retailers before the console's official launch. The highly anticipated Switch 2 is scheduled for release on Thursday, June 5, with Nintendo anticipating demand will exceed initial supply.

As shared on Reddit (via VGC), official Switch 2 stock notification signs are appearing in U.S. stores alongside standard promotional materials for the console and launch title Mario Kart World. "Nintendo sent us these signs," commented a retail employee preparing for a midnight launch event. "They clearly have a sense of humor."

Anticipating Supply Challenges

Nintendo has already cautioned about potential Switch 2 shortages, particularly in Japan where demand is exceptionally high. For the U.S. market, the company has mitigated potential tariff uncertainties by prioritizing Switch 2 units manufactured in Vietnam rather than China.

Like most successful console launches, inventory limitations are expected. Pre-orders have already proven difficult to secure, making widespread sell-outs virtually inevitable during the initial launch period.

A Practical Solution with Marketing Benefits

The preemptive "Out of Stock" signs serve a dual purpose - preparing retail staff for inevitable customer inquiries while subtly emphasizing the console's popularity.

"Any retail employee knows they'll face countless customers insisting they check nonexistent backroom stock," one commenter noted. "As if our storage areas contain some magical electronics wonderland."

The strategy also functions as effective marketing. "This creates perceived scarcity," another observer remarked. "Seeing unavailable signs triggers consumer psychology - people want what others can't easily obtain."

Pre-Launch Updates

In preparation for the Switch 2 debut, Nintendo has rolled out updates for the original Switch hardware and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Early glimpses of enhanced Pokémon Scarlet and Violet running on the new hardware have also surfaced.

For those securing a Switch 2 at launch, Nintendo has shared important guidance about preserving the console's protective screen film.