Toronto gamers showed up and showed out this week, lining sidewalks and camping overnight outside GameStop, EB Games, and local malls to be among the first to grab the long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2, which officially dropped Thursday.
The hype has been building since Nintendo teased the first look of the console back in January. And now, eight years after the original Switch hit shelves in 2017, fans were more than ready; braving gloomy skies, rain, and long lines armed with umbrellas, snacks, and sheer determination.
The Switch 2 promises a major leap in portable gaming— a bigger screen, smoother graphics, and redesigned controls. It launches with several new titles, including the much-anticipated Mario Kart World, which is also available in a day-one bundle.
But the upgrade comes at a price. In Canada, the base model (256GB) goes for $629, while the Mario Kart bundle is priced at $699. That’s more than double the launch price of the original Switch ($299 USD), but fans didn’t seem to flinch.
This week’s launch follows a full of chaos U.S. pre-order window back in April, which left many disappointed. Still, demand remains sky-high. Nintendo projects 15 million units sold globally by March 2026—and if Toronto’s turnout is any indication, they’re well on their way.
Rain or shine, sticker shock or not, one thing’s clear: gamers are all-in on the Switch 2. And judging by the launch-day buzz, Nintendo has another hit on its cards.
