The Nintendo Switch 2 is coming in hot—and in typical Nintendo fashion, it’s created global retail pandemonium before it even hits shelves. From the U.S. to Japan, fans are scrambling, bots are wreaking havoc, and checkout carts are vanishing faster than Mario down a warp pipe. But here in Mzansi? Things have been… surprisingly civil—well, if you ignore the part where your wallet cries.
Global Meltdown: Switch 2 Breaks the Internet (Again)
First we should consider the situation across the entire world. In the U.S., the usual suspects—Walmart, Best Buy, GameStop, Target—all buckled under pressure. . Websites crashed, checkout processes failed, and even those lucky enough to score a “confirmed” order later discovered it had been cancelled. GameStop in particular got hit hard, thanks to bot interference and duplicated orders, leading to mass confusion and a whole lot of angry Reddit threads.
In Japan the situation was no better than elsewhere. Nintendo’s own My Nintendo Store racked up over 2.2 million pre-order requests—more than double what the company had prepared handle. The result? A good chunk of customers were told straight up: you’re not getting one on launch day. Instead, they were tossed into a post-launch lottery system. Classic.
Meanwhile, in South Africa: Smooth Sailing… With a Premium Price Tag
As for the local scene. South Africa’s Switch 2 rollout has been—dare we say it—orderly. Stuff.co.za and Glitched reported that retailers like Nexus Hub and Raru showed strong demand, with most initial allocations already snapped up. The standalone console and bundles like the Mario Kart World edition are temporarily out of stock in some places, but there’s none of the digital stampede that plagued other markets. No crashes, no chaos, no 2 a.m. rage tweets. Just regular people buying a console… at a steep markup
But the pricing here is brutal.
Standard Nintendo Switch 2: R12,499
Mario Kart World Bundle: R13,499
Mario Kart World (game only): R1,999
Donkey Kong Bananza: R1,799
Pro Controller / Joy-Con 2 (pair): R2,299 each
A base model of the U.S. Nintendo Switch 2 costs $449.99 yet the price equivalent in South African Rand stands at R8,560 with current exchange rates. The high price of R12,499 for the Switch 2 base model reflects a 50% mark-up due to taxes and import costs as well as South Africa’s weak currency.
Is it fair? No. Is it new? Also no. Welcome to being a South African gamer.
What You’re Getting: Hardware Upgrades That Actually Matter
To Nintendo’s credit, the Switch 2 isn’t just a repackaged nostalgia machine. There are meaningful upgrades here:
- 7.9-inch 1080p HDR LCD display (finally!)
- 256GB internal storage
- Redesigned Joy-Cons with magnetic connectors (RIP those dodgy rails)
- 4K/60fps support when docked
- Built-in GameChat for voice/video calls
This isn’t a spec-chasing console—it’s still Nintendo—but for longtime fans and newcomers, the jump is big enough to feel fresh again.
Launch Titles: Not Just Filler
At launch, you’re getting a solid lineup, including:
Mario Kart World
Donkey Kong Bananza
Enhanced versions of Breath of the Wild and other classics
Full backward compatibility with all existing Switch games
So whether you’re upgrading from a dusty OG Switch or diving in for the first time, your library’s instantly stacked.
Verdict: Smooth Process, Steep Price, Same Nintendo Magic
The global demand has been wild, but South Africa’s Switch 2 rollout has been refreshingly sane—if financially painful. The pre-orders came and went without drama, but the price tag still stings. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual gamer, the value equation comes down to one thing: how much are you willing to pay for that sweet, sweet Nintendo magic?
If you’ve already locked in your pre-order, good news: your console should arrive on time, no global lottery required. But if you’re still on the fence, you’ve got until June 5 to decide whether this next-gen Switch is worth the splurge—or whether it’s time to dust off the old one and wait for the inevitable OLED Pro XL 4K Anniversary Remix Edition in 2026.
Either way, we’ll be watching—and probably racing each other in Mario Kart World while we do.
TL;DR for SA Gamers
✅ Easy pre-order process
✅ Timely delivery expected
✅ Backward compatible
❌ Very premium price
❌ Limited retail availability (for now)
Launch Date: June 5, 2025
Available at: Nexus Hub, Raru, select specialist retailers
