Hey, gamers! Buckle up because we’ve got some juicy news straight from the retail frontlines. Best Buy Canada might’ve just let the cat out of the bag: preorders for the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 are apparently kicking off on April 2nd. Yep, you heard that right—mark your calendars, set your alarms, and maybe even take a personal day, because this could be your shot to snag Nintendo’s next big thing before the scalpers swoop in.

According to a blog post that Best Buy Canada put up (and then quickly yanked down, though you can still peek at it via web archives if you’re quick), the retailer is gearing up to open preorders for the Switch 2 on April 2nd, coinciding with Nintendo’s big Switch 2-focused Direct presentation. The Direct’s slated to start at 9 am ET / 6 am PT, but Best Buy didn’t spill the beans on the exact time those preorder buttons will go live. Will it be right after the stream? During? A few hours later? Your guess is as good as mine, but if history’s any clue, you’ll want to be ready to refresh that page like your life depends on it.

Speaking of history, let’s take a quick trip down memory lane. Back in January 2017, when the original Nintendo Switch was unveiled, preorders dropped immediately after Nintendo’s presentation. We’re talking a mad dash to physical stores like Best Buy and Target, with fans lining up to secure their consoles before the official launch on March 3rd that year. It was chaos—glorious, gaming-fueled chaos. This time around, though, we’re in 2025. Still, U.S. retailers, including Best Buy’s American arm, haven’t confirmed if they’ll follow Canada’s lead on April 2nd. Fingers crossed they do.

So, what do we actually know about the Nintendo Switch 2? Nintendo gave us a teaser back in January, and while they’re keeping the full reveal under wraps until the April 2nd Direct, a few tantalizing details have slipped out. For starters, this bad boy’s got a bigger screen—perfect for squinting less at Breath of the Wild’s sprawling landscapes. It’s also backward compatible with original Switch games, so your existing library isn’t going anywhere (though Nintendo’s hinted some titles might not play nice—more on that later, I’m sure). And the Joy-Cons? They’re going magnetic this time, snapping on with a satisfying click and maybe even doubling as mouse-like controllers. I’m already imagining the chaos of waving those around in a heated Mario Kart session.

Nintendo’s not stopping at a digital reveal, either. They’ve got a whole roadshow planned, with hands-on events popping up across North America, Europe, and beyond from April through May. We’re talking New York, LA, Toronto, Paris, Tokyo—the list goes on. Bad news, though: tickets are already gone, and you’ll need to join a waitlist if you want a chance to fondle the Switch 2 before it hits shelves. If you’re like me and missed the boat, we’ll just have to live vicariously through the lucky folks who get in.

Now, let’s talk launch vibes. The Switch 2 is eyeing a June 2025 release. That tracks with Nintendo’s pattern of giving us a few months between preorder kickoff and launch day. Pricing’s still a mystery, but rumors swirling around sites like Tom’s Guide and GamesRadar peg it between $399 and $450. That’s a step up from the original Switch’s $299 launch price and the OLED model’s $349, but if the Switch 2’s packing serious upgrades (and it sounds like it is), I’m not mad at it. Just start saving those coins now.

Of course, this wouldn’t be a console launch without some hype-worthy games to go with it. The January teaser showed off a slick new Mario Kart title running on the Switch 2, complete with sharper visuals and a grid that looked ready for 24 racers. Could this be Mario Kart 9? A souped-up Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sequel? Whatever it is, it’s got me itching to drift around Rainbow Road again. Beyond that, speculation’s running wild—Metroid Prime 4 could be a cross-gen launch title, per GameSpot, and Hollow Knight: Silksong fans are praying for a Switch 2 debut, according to IGN. Nintendo’s keeping the full lineup close to the chest, but the April 2nd Direct should spill more tea.

Here’s the kicker: even with all this buzz, Best Buy Canada’s slip-up isn’t official confirmation. Nintendo hasn’t said a peep about preorders yet, and there’s always a chance the retailer jumped the gun.

So, what’s the plan, fam? April 2nd is less than a week away as I write this on March 27th, 2025. The Direct’s your first stop—tune in at 9 am ET on Nintendo’s official YouTube or website (they’ve got a dedicated Switch 2 page ready). After that, keep your browser locked on Best Buy Canada’s site, and maybe scope out U.S. heavyweights like Amazon, Walmart, Target, and GameStop too. Sign up for alerts if you can—Best Buy’s U.S. page has a “notify me” option, and GameStop’s got a Switch 2 listing you can watch.

This is shaping up to be a wild ride. The original Switch was a juggernaut—over 140 million units sold, per Nintendo’s latest figures—and the Switch 2’s poised to carry that torch. With a beefier setup, backward compatibility, and Nintendo’s knack for killer exclusives, June can’t come soon enough. Until then, April 2nd is the day to watch.