Here’s where you can buy a Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch, like everything else that can lighten the mood during this difficult time, is in short supply. And as soon as retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart get it in stock, it quickly sells out. It can be disheartening to miss out on the opportunity to buy a Switch — but fear not! The purpose of this article is to help you do just that without paying more than it would usually cost at retail.

We’re keeping a lookout across the web to find where, when, and how you can buy a Nintendo Switch (the one you can dock to your TV or remove for portable use) or a Switch Lite (the portable-only version of the console) as well as any bundles that seem like good deals.

Keep in mind that stock — even Switch consoles that are preowned or refurbished — will likely continue to sell out quickly during the pandemic. But we’ll do our best to keep this article up to date with the latest in-stock offers, and we’ll tell you when each offer was posted. When something gets sold out, we’ll try to let you know.

Where can I buy a Nintendo Switch or Switch Lite right now?

• Over at Amazon, you can buy an updated Nintendo Switch model with gray Joy-Cons, plus a 64GB SanDisk MicroSD card for $317. If you’re looking to upgrade, Amazon is offering two additional bundles, one with a 128GB SanDisk MicroSD card for $327 and one with a 256GB SanDisk MicroSD card for $346. All three bundles will be in stock on May 28th.
• You can purchase the updated Nintendo Switch model with gray Joy-Cons for $300 at Amazon (in stock 6/4), or with red and blue Joy-Cons for $300 at Nintendo. The Animal Crossing: New Horizons Edition is also available for purchase for $300 at Amazon (in stock soon).
• Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Walmart, and B&H Photo all have Nintendo Switch Lite stock available in different colors.
• GameStop, Best Buy, and Target receive new supplies of the Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite consoles fairly regularly, and it’s a good strategy to keep these pages open so you can quickly add one to your cart when they come back in stock. Keep in mind, however, that they’re occasionally only available for in-store pickup.

If you’re not against buying a preowned or refurbished console, you’ll want to check out GameStop. Another good place to look is Nintendo’s online store where it sells refurbished Switch consoles. Currently, Nintendo is offering the second-gen Nintendo Switch with gray Joy-Cons or red and blue Joy-Cons for $260, in addition to every color of the Switch Lite.

What accessories do I need to buy for the Nintendo Switch?

Frankly, the Switch comes with everything that you need to get started and have fun. However, a few extra purchases can help you get a little more out of your console, and in some cases, help it weather the wear and tear that it’ll undoubtedly endure.

SanDisk 200GB microSD card

Prices taken at time of publishing.

The Nintendo Switch ships with 32GB of internal storage, which won’t get you very far when it comes to downloading games. Adding a 200GB microSD card is a smart, relatively affordable way to give your storage a boost.

First off, a MicroSD card will help you extend your Switch’s default 32GB of storage. Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers regularly sell cards with up to 512GB of storage for around $70. A 400GB microSD card will cost you around $50, and with each game ranging in download size from 1GB to tens of gigabytes, the card has enough space to store several of them.

Nintendo Switch Pro controller

Prices taken at time of publishing.

A game controller designed for the Nintendo Switch and a more comfortable alternative to the Joy-Con controllers.

Let’s talk quickly about controllers. The Switch Joy-Cons have a somewhat unconventional look. Nevertheless, the Pro Controller is a great alternative to play most Switch games, though some Super Mario Party titles require the Joy-Cons to play. If you are looking for a Switch Pro controller, both Amazon and Walmart also have the Switch Pro controller for $59, knockings $11 off its normal retail price.

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Next up, get a tempered glass screen cover. The display on the Switch and Switch Lite is covered in plastic, and it’s just asking to get scratched as soon as you take it out of the box. Save the heartbreak by getting an affordable, easy-to-apply glass cover at Amazon.

If you want to play online with friends, ensure that your saves are backed up in the cloud, and get access to a slate of on-demand games from the original Nintendo console and SNES console era, you’ll want to get a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. It’s $20 per year for a single user on a console or $35 a year for up to eight users on different consoles.

Right now, Eneba offers a discounted one-year, individual membership for $19.

Nintendo Switch Online Individual Membership (one year)

Prices taken at time of publishing.

A premium online service for Nintendo Switch owners, allowing you to play online with friends and access cloud saves in addition to a slate of retro games released in the NES and SNES eras.