Among all the Nintendo Switch 2 release window hype, one of the more unusual happenings has been the lack of unit availability on Amazon’s US storefront.
Whereas GameStop, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and even Costco provided pre-orders and day-one stock for lucky in-store buyers, the e-commerce behemoth has been noticeably absent from the Switch 2 launch cycle.
This scarcity of Switch 2 gear extends beyond the console itself: except from the upcoming Donkey Kong Banaza title, first- and third-party launch games, as well as official peripherals such as the Switch 2 Pro Controller and Switch 2 Camera, are generally unavailable on Amazon.com.
Speculation of a rift between Amazon and Nintendo has circulated in the days following the console’s June 5 launch, and a fresh Bloomberg article has muddied the waters even further. According to the source, Nintendo purposefully chose not to allow the stocking of Switch 2 consoles on Amazon in order to mitigate the possibility of third-party retailers importing international devices and selling them in the United States at a discount.
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Furthermore, Amazon apparently offered Nintendo a solution in the form of a’sold directly by Nintendo’ disclaimer label on Switch 2 items, which was never implemented. As a result, when the existing product pages for the Switch 2 on Amazon are browsed, a 404 error notice appears on screen, with no further explanation of the likely release date.
Here’s the confusing part: A Nintendo spokesperson told Tom’s Hardware that “there is no such fact,” and that “we do not disclose details of negotiations or contracts with retailers.” Amazon, for its part, has also pushed back against the Boomberg report, with a spokesperson saying that “Amazon is pleased to offer Nintendo products directly to our customers as part of our commitment to providing an exceptional shopping experience with the widest selection possible” (via IGN).
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