How to buy a Nintendo Switch – and where it’s actually available

1) Shop around

Given the £280 price tag at launch, it’s worth looking around to check two things. Firstly, whether you’re getting the best deal and, secondly, how quickly you’ll actually receive the console.

See, while ordering a grey Switch through Amazon, for example, will get you the £279 price, stock isn’t actually due in until 31 March. That means, even if you order now, you’re unlikely to receive the console until the end of the month – and the same applies for the neon red/neon blue version.

In fact, we’ve struggled to find many Switch consoles available to buy today – at least online. Game, as with Amazon, doesn’t have confirmation of its stock allocation and while Simply Games is offering bundles – all of which, as we write this, are out of stock. Still, if you’d like to peruse its selection, you can do so by clicking here.

365games says it has ‘limited’ stock for the grey Switch and neon red/neon blue version, and this looks like your best current bet – so grab them while you can. But do be aware that they’re going for £330, which is a £50 mark-up on the Amazon price.

Some retailers – including ShopTo – limit stock to one per customer in order to make it more likely that consoles will be available, but alas they’re currently – you guessed it – sold out.

If you’re willing to wait, some retailers are beginning to offer bundles – such as Very, who will give you the Switch plus Breath of the Wild for £330, a saving of precisely £0.

What’s your best bet? Find a retailer you trust and stick in an order. Anything less than £280 – which is also the price across Tesco, Zavvi and Argos – is good (although all three are currently also sold out). Looks like you’re going to be waiting a few weeks for your console, then. Classic Nintendo…

2) Consider an import

This one will need a bit of calculator handiwork but, if conditions align, it can sometimes be cheaper to import a console.

The good news is that the Switch is region-free, so all games and hardware should work worldwide.

The bad – and boring – news is that you’ll have to factor in exchange rates, shipping and import taxes to work out whether getting a new Nintendo machine from afar is really worthwhile.

It’s been done before, though – and, with the dollar currently stronger than the pound, if you’ve got some American greens stashed away, now could be the time to spend them.

Sadly, at the moment the Switch shortage is hitting stores worldwide – with US buyers clamouring to get their hands on the latest Ninty machine, too. All of this has pushed third-party prices up towards the US$430 mark, meaning it’s probably still better to wait, unless you’re truly desperate – in which case you might as well stump up for a re-sale console here in the UK. At the moment, that’ll cost you something like £330.

Alternatively, you might want to keep an eye on Gamestop: its site isn’t entirely clear, but the suggestion seems to be that stock is incoming – with trade-in offers and a couple of bundle deals listed.

3) Clue up on the games

There aren’t that many games available for the Switch at launch – but the ones that do exist are generally pretty good. Want proof? Our 7 of the best Nintendo Switch launch games feature will set you right.

There are now several bundles available but most don’t seem to work out much cheaper than just buying the console and game separately, and availability is limited, anyway.

Of the games themselves, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is available in both standard and limited editions, with the latter presently cheapest at Argos, at £80. Meanwhile, 1-2-Switch will set you back £35 from Argos, while ports of existing games Splatoon 2 and Mario Kart 8 will cost £60 and £50 respectively.

4) Pick your peripherals

It might lack a full complement of games at launch, but there’s no shortage of accessories to pick up for your Switch.

Again, it’s worth taking a second to consider what stuff you actually need – because a lot of it doesn’t come cheap.

A Pro Controller, for example, will set you back £65 from Game, while an additional pair of Joy-Cons – necessary for multiplayer gaming on your telly – costs a not insignificant £75 from Amazon.

There are all sorts of straps, skins and wheels, too – though, with few, if any, savings going on multi-buys, it might be better to wait until you’ve tried the Switch before coughing up for more than the bare bones.