How to check if you qualify for Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders

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Following the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct presentation yesterday, you might be considering pre-ordering the upcoming console from various online retailers. However, if you’re hesitant about dealing with anyone other than Nintendo themselves due to concerns over restrictions, you may find yourself unsure about certain conditions. These measures are most likely in place to prevent scalpers, individuals who intend to buy the console and resell it at a significantly higher price for profit. Here’s what you should be aware of and how to determine your eligibility.

Don’t remember if you opted to share data with Nintendo? It’s easy to check

Nintendo has specified certain criteria for those who wish to place an order through their official site. Select users can express their intent to acquire the upcoming Nintendo console, though this opportunity is currently limited to Nintendo account holders in the United States and Canada. It’s unclear why users from other regions are unable to participate at this time, but it presents a significant limitation. If you reside in one of the eligible countries, you can express interest in either:

1. The standard Switch 2 console (retailing for $449.99) or
2. A bundle that includes Mario Kart World (priced at $499.99).

Please note that you may only select one option to register your interest. Once you’ve registered, you’ll need to wait until May 8th for invitations to be sent out. This is roughly a month earlier than pre-orders are expected to become available elsewhere. After receiving an invitation, you will have 72 hours to complete your pre-order purchase.

To put it simply, the priority criteria for receiving the initial invitation emails from Nintendo’s website are:

1. You must have purchased any Nintendo Switch Online membership and have been continuously paying for that membership since at least April 2nd, 2024 (for a minimum of 12 months).
2. You must have agreed to share your gameplay data with Nintendo. If you’re unsure about this, there is an option to check if you have opted in.
3. You should have accumulated at least 50 hours of total gameplay hours, which for many players, shouldn’t be too difficult to achieve.

To ensure that you’ve clocked in 50 hours of gameplay, first turn on your Nintendo Switch, then pick your specific profile located in the top-left corner. Your chosen profile’s homepage will display details about the last 20 games you’ve engaged with and the total hours spent playing each one.

To find out if you’ve agreed to share your gameplay data with Nintendo, follow these simple steps:

1. Log in to your My Nintendo account.
2. Click on the profile icon located in the upper right corner.
3. Navigate to Account Settings.
4. From there, choose Privacy and Other Settings.
5. Scroll down to Data Usage – Opt-Out Preferences.
6. If you see “Share with Nintendo” and it has a small blue checkmark, that means you’ve previously opted in.
7. If you don’t see this option, it might be too late to change it as the policy states “as of April 2nd, 2025.” However, you now have the necessary information to make informed decisions about your pre-orders.

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2025-04-03 22:02