GameStop “Actively Investigating” Switch 2 Forced-Bundling Reports

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Last week, when Switch 2 preorders became available in the US, there were long lines outside physical GameStop stores as people queued up to preorder in person. It’s been reported that some stores might have attempted to capitalize on the demand for these coveted preorders by making customers purchase additional games and accessories to form an expensive bundle, a practice which is now under investigation by GameStop corporate.

User and Twitch streamer Elea Tsentzelis shared their encounter at the GameStop store in Astoria, where they alleged that the staff were pressuring customers to purchase additional accessories, asserting that they couldn’t process the Switch 2 console’s SKU on its own.

Later on, Tsentzelis shared a complete video of his store purchase, during which a GameStop employee requests that he compile a group of goods with at least a certain number of items. Despite combining a MicroSD card, Donkey Kong Bananza, the Mario Kart World bundle, a Pro Controller, Tsentzelis was still told to include two more products in his collection.

In responses to the post, many users of X brand reportedly encountered no problems when preordering the console individually at various GameStop retailers. However, some users shared similar accounts of being pushed to buy Switch 2 games, accessories, or warranties at certain GameStop outlets. Some users even alleged they were informed they needed a GameStop Pro Membership for pre-ordering, or felt strongly pressured into becoming members.

GameStop’s help desk has acknowledged Tsentzelis’ post and stated that they are currently looking into the issue at hand. If you were denied service at the Astoria location, please reach out to them via direct message so they can rectify the situation. At this time, only the Astoria store has been mentioned by GameStop’s support account in relation to the matter.

So far, the process of preordering the Switch 2 has been a bit disorganized. The US preorders have faced delays because of Trump’s tariffs, and when online orders were opened, the console experienced high demand and technical issues. Currently, console preorders are not available, but many of the games and accessories can still be preordered. Some Switch 2 preorders are appearing on eBay, but it’s important to verify what you’re buying if you decide to purchase from there.

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2025-04-29 15:09