The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here, and fans are already jumping into the action. A new console means fresh titles, new features, and plenty of excitement.
But that enthusiasm quickly turned to disappointment for some early buyers, who discovered their consoles were damaged before they even got a chance to plug them in.
Launch day disappointment for some Switch 2 fans
Several GameStop costumers who picked up their Switch 2 during the midnight launch were shocked to find holes in their console’s screens as soon as they got home. According to IGN, the issue stemmed from store employees stapling receipts directly to the front of the packaging, indadvertedly puncturing the devices.
“GameStop stapled the receipt for me and my friends’ Switch 2s to the box. FML,” wrote one player last night after discovering the screen was pierced. “Genuinely insane, now I’m gonna have to wait three months for the restock”.
Evidence suggests that a single GameStop branch in Staten Island may be responsible for the numerous damaged units. Multiple images on social media show receipts from this location, and a video from the launch event shows a long line of now very unlucky buyers.
Fans demand accountability
Many users on social media have pointed out that Nintendo could have avoided this issue with better packaging, or at the very least, by not putting the screen right up against the top of the box.
Others, however, believe the store needs to own up to its mistake, as it likely handled all its Switch 2 pre-orders the same way:
“Could you imagine f***ing up hundreds of consoles because you couldn’t use tape?” said one player.
“Even if you take this approach, there were plenty of places to go but the top…” replied another.
“RIP to whoever’s working that GameStop tomorrow,” added a third.
“They should have stapled to the bag not the box… that’s what my store did,” pointed out another user.
“Doing this to their whole allotment of consoles is F***ING INSANE,” wrote someone else.
What do you think? Should GameStop take the fall, or is Nintendo to blame here? Share your thoughts in the comments section.