Where to get and buy a Nintendo Switch on launch day

Nintendo Switch launch day is here at last, but if you don't have a pre-order, that means you're out of luck, right? Not exactly – a number of retailers have the Switch in stock for walk-in customers today, but it's still going to be tricky to find one. With pre-orders selling out quickly when they were first announced, there's going to be a lot of competition to get these extra consoles.

So far, a number of nationwide retailers have announced that they'll be carrying the Switch for walk-in customers today. Two of those retailers are GameStop and Best Buy, though it might be more challenging to find one at these two chains than other places. That's because many GameStop and Best Buy stores opened at midnight this morning, and invited walk-in customers to come in and pick up a Switch then.

Still, if you have a Best Buy or GameStop nearby that didn't open for a midnight launch, you might have a better shot at finding a Switch there. Alternatively, Walmart, Target, and Toys R Us all seem to be offering walk-in consoles as well. Walmart previously announced that it would have consoles on hand at Supercenters across the US, while weekly ads from Target and Toys R Us say similar things about availability.

Obviously, you shouldn't go in expecting to pick up a Switch considering the demand for these things, but one thing you may want to do is check with regional retailers as well. For instance, here in the Midwest, supermarket chain Meijer has been advertising that it will have the Switch in stock beginning today, March 3. If you strike out with nationwide stores, it's definitely worth checking in with smaller retailers.

Hopefully we're not seeing the beginning of another NES Classic situation, but the fact that pre-orders have been hard come by suggests we might. We'll see how launch day and following weeks go, but for now, head down to the comments section and let us know if you managed to get a Switch today!