With the Nintendo Switch 2 set to drop on June 5, 2025, a handful of lucky fans have nabbed retail units ahead of schedule, but they’re stuck in limbo without a must-have day-one update, as shown in leaked images and videos popping up across social media.
Some fans have already received the Nintendo Switch 2 🎮
It's locked behind a Day 1 patch and can't be used until June 5
(via @Wario64) pic.twitter.com/a89II5gSja
— Entertainment Culture (@randomthingxs) May 27, 2025
It’s now known that at least one individual has a retail unit but can’t use it, as it’s “locked behind a Day 1 patch” that won’t be available until June 5. This isn’t a glitch or an oversight; it’s a deliberate move by Nintendo to prevent scalpers from selling retail units early. The company has ensured that these units remain glorified paperweights until the official launch, requiring an online update to unlock their full functionality.
Miyoo Mini Plus Handheld Game Console 3.5-inch 640*480 IPS Screen 3000mAh Miyoo-mini+ with Portable Case...
- NOTE: Out of box to play console but NO Nin10do-games, please prepare your own games if needed.
- High resolution display 3.5-inch 640*480 IPS screen full lamination
- Built-in 3000mAh 3.7V LiPo battery 4-6 hours life
The first Nintendo Switch 2 has been sold
They cannot play it as it needs a update to start on June 5th pic.twitter.com/lEUov1ERPb
— BadPlayable (@BadPlayable) May 27, 2025
How did these units escape into the wild before the official release? Retailers like Best Buy, GameStop, and Walmart are gearing up for the June 5 launch, with some already receiving inventory to prepare for in-store sales. A few units likely slipped out early thanks to sloppy inventory control or staff slip-ups both intentionally as well as unintentionally.
Nintendo’s playing it cool card, as usual, with only a brief comment to Sankei Shimbun about earlier fake renders, stating, “The images and videos are not official,” and staying mum on these latest retail leaks, letting their silence do the talking. The company is no stranger to pre-launch leaks—similar situations occurred with the original Switch in 2017—and its strategy of locking early units suggests a proactive effort to maintain secrecy. A Nintendo representative, when pressed about the company’s plans for the Switch 2 reveal, previously noted, “We will share more details about the successor to the Nintendo Switch before the end of our fiscal year in March.” That promise was fulfilled with the April 2 Nintendo Direct, which confirmed the June 5 launch and a $449.99 price tag.
The locked units have only fueled speculation about the Switch 2’s capabilities. Unlike its predecessor, the Switch 2 boasts a larger 7.9-inch 1080p LCD screen with HDR10 and up to 120Hz refresh rates, 256GB of internal storage, and magnetically attached Joy-Con controllers with a mysterious “C” button.
The day-one update, which media outlets were told won’t be available until just before launch, is said to be significant, potentially affecting both hardware functionality and game performance. This has led to speculation that the update could include critical firmware tweaks or even security patches to prevent unauthorized access.
Retailers are gearing up for a frenzy when the Switch 2 officially launches, with U.S. pre-orders vanishing in minutes on April 24 despite tariff-related hiccups, and Best Buy and GameStop warning of scarce in-store stock, some stores planning midnight launches for pre-orders and walk-ins, while U.K. scalping fears grow with bundles hitting over £550.
