Switch 2 Consoles Seem To Already Be In People's Hands

Switch 2 units are seemingly beginning to appear in the wild ahead of the console's official launch next week. Multiple images and videos (some of which were pulled as this article was written) circulating online show what appear to be Switch 2 systems in stores and even potentially already at home with some users.

But the systems may nothing more than paperweights for now, as the Switch 2 is said to be unable to be used without a day-one mandatory online update. That might mean that anything more than further impressions of what it's like to hold the unit will have to wait until launch day. You can read our initial hands-on impressions with Switch 2 for some sense of what to expect.

We can't say for sure if any of the leaks thus far are legitimate. It's a certainty that Nintendo is shipping units to stores ahead of the June 5 launch, so it's possible that some legitimate footage is emerging and that people may have already gotten their hands on a unit.

A source told Wario64 that they obtained a Switch 2 console and tried to boot it up. However, the console reportedly returned the message, "Please connect to the internet and update your system."

The Game Business reported that there will be a "significant" day one patch for the Switch 2. Exactly what's included in the update, however, is unknown.

The Switch 2 officially launches on June 5, with Mario Kart World as a launch title. Preorder stock for the $450 system and the $500 Mario Kart World bundle are sold out, but keep checking back with GameSpot's Switch 2 preorder guide to find out how to give yourself the best chance at getting a system.

Hopes are high for the Switch 2, with one company saying the Switch 2 is possibly the most important product launch in the history of gaming. Nintendo has officially forecast Switch 2 sales of 15 million units by the end of March 2026, but this may be an intentionally conservative projection.