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SanDisk 512GB MicroSD Express For Switch 2 Is Only $78 At Walmart
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SanDisk 512GB MicroSD Express For Switch 2 Is Only $78 At Walmart

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If you haven’t picked up a microSD Express Card for your Nintendo Switch 2, you should check out the 512GB SanDisk Gameplay at Walmart. The SanDisk Gameplay has the same specs as the $120 SanDisk card found at Amazon, Best Buy, and even Walmart. The key difference between the two is price: The SanDisk Gameplay 512GB microSD Express is just $78.

The SanDisk Gameplay is only sold at Walmart. Due to its exclusivity and low price, the card has sold out numerous times in recent weeks. It’s in stock as of August 22. The SanDisk Gameplay is one of only two 512GB microSD Express Cards priced under $100 right now. The other one is from Walmart-owned budget tech brand Onn. The 512GB Onn microSD Express is only $65.77. If you don’t think you need 512GB of extra storage, Onn’s 256GB model is only $35.77, roughly $25 less than the officially licensed Samsung 256GB microSD Express Card.

The Onn Express Cards regularly sell out, but Walmart consistently replenishes its inventory. Sometimes these cards are only sold to customers located in specific US regions, so availability near you can vary on a day-to-day basis.

microSD Express Cards for Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo Switch 2 only reads microSD Express Cards

We rounded up every microSD Express at Walmart and Amazon that we could find below. At this time, the only officially licensed option is the 256GB Samsung microSD Express. SanDisk is making its own Nintendo-themed edition, but it’s still unknown when it will arrive and if it will move beyond. 256GB. The microSD Express market is still quite small, but the Switch 2 is the first major consumer device to use the ultra-fast format. The number of options has doubled multiple times over since Nintendo announced the Switch 2 requires microSD Express to expand storage.

microSD Express Cards at Walmart

microSD Express Cards at Amazon

Nintendo Switch 2 storage space can disappear fast

The Nintendo Switch 2 has a 256GB onboard SSD. On the surface, this is a big leap forward, since it’s four times larger than the Switch OLED (64GB) and eight times larger than the original Switch and Switch Lite (32GB). But the Switch 2’s ability to run more graphically intensive games also means larger file sizes. For example, the upcoming Switch 2 exclusive Kirby Air Riders is listed at 25GB, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s Switch 2 edition is 20GB, and Mario Kart World is 22GB.

You can save your storage space for those first-party games by grabbing physical editions, because Nintendo-published games have the full game file on the card. For third-party titles, outside of rare exceptions like Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, physical games for Switch 2 are using Game-Key Cards. These are low-capacity cards that essentially serve as unlock keys to download the game from the eShop. So if you buy the physical edition of Madden NFL 26, you’ll still need to download the majority of the game’s 55.3GB file from the eShop. A bunch of notable upcoming Switch 2 games with Game-Key Card editions also have large file sizes, including Borderlands 4 (48.8GB), Persona 3 Reload (25.4GB), and Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero (25GB).

Because of Game-Key Cards and larger file sizes for AAA games, some Nintendo Switch 2 owners will run out of storage space faster than they did on the original Switch.

microSD Express: What is it?

The Express format is a recent advancement in the semiconductor industry that hasn’t been widely adopted by manufacturers just yet. If you’re wondering why Express cards seem so expensive compared to the UHS-I cards you used on the original Switch console and most devices, it all comes down to speeds. For example, the SanDisk Ultra 512GB microSD Card has up to 150MB/s read speed, and the SanDisk Gameplay 512GB Express Card has 880MB/s–it’s nearly six times faster. Express cards are markedly faster than SATA SSDs; the prices make more sense with this context.

You can take a closer look at many of the microSD Express Cards from the lists in the gallery below.

$59 | Officially licensed

  • Read: 800MB/s
  • Write: 400MB/s

Samsung’s officially licensed model has a Mario red color scheme and M logo. Unsurprisingly, it’s by far the most popular microSD Express Card for Switch 2. Samsung and SanDisk are widely considered the top brands for microSD cards. Since SanDisk’s Nintendo-licensed card isn’t available yet, Samsung is the only “official” option.

At $60–or $59 at Walmart–the Samsung microSD Express is far more reasonably priced than the pricey Nintendo-themed SanDisk cards for original Switch. If you opt for a 256GB Express, we’d go with this one or the Onn Express Card at Walmart–if it’s available in your region. The Walmart-branded card saves you about $25, and it technically has better specs.

We’ve included read/write speeds for each card on this list. Read speeds range between 800-900MB/s, but it’s unlikely you’d ever notice a difference between Samsung’s 800MB/s read speed and Lexar’s 900MB/s speed.

The Nintendo-licensed Samsung card has the slowest write speed on this list. At face value, this sounds bad, but really it signifies what’s important and what isn’t. If the officially licensed card can write 400MB/s, that means the Switch 2 doesn’t benefit from higher speeds.

While it won’t matter for Switch 2, if you think there’s a chance you’ll upgrade to a higher-capacity card and repurpose this one for a different Express-compatible device, write speeds could become more of a consideration. But to be clear, 400MB/s is still pretty fast.

$78 | Only at Walmart

  • Read: 880MB/s
  • Write: 650MB/s
  • Sustained Write: 220MB/s

As mentioned, the SanDisk Gameplay 512GB microSD Express Card is currently only available at Walmart. It appears to be an exclusive card with small branding alterations. The regular SanDisk model has “microSD Express” written across its red stripe, whereas this one has “Gameplay” on the red stripe and “Express” below it on the right. Do this differences matter at all? Not in the slightest.

Here’s what matters: the SanDisk Gameplay is exactly the same as the regular 512GB model from a technical and performance perspective. And yet, you save around $40 by purchasing the Gameplay version.

The 512GB Gameplay is only six bucks more than the 256GB regular edition and less than $20 more than the 128GB model. The Gameplay edition is only available with 512GB.

If you go with SanDisk, the Gameplay is the obvious choice. In terms of 512GB microSD Express Cards, only Walmart’s Onn brand is cheaper, and that one isn’t always available in all regions and has slightly slower speeds.

256GB – $35.77 | 512GB – $65.77

  • Read: 800MB/s
  • Write: 600MB/s

Note on availability: These cards often sell out and are sometimes only available in certain regions across the US. If you want one, we’d recommend checking Walmart daily, because both models have sold out many times since the Switch 2’s launch.

The Walmart-owned tech brand Onn is known for its budget prices, and that remains true with its microSD Express Cards. The 256GB model is the cheapest microSD Express Card you can by today. The 512GB edition cost less than most 256GB Express cards from other brands.

If you’re thinking the prices are too good to be true, it’s worth noting that these cards are made by Lexar. The Onn cards have the same write speed as the Lexar Play Pro, but the Play Pro is 100MB/s faster for reading. That said, the 512GB Lexar costs close to double the price.

Anecdotally, I’ve been using the 512GB model since launch day and haven’t experienced any issues.

Walmart says the cards are “water, shock, temperature, and magnet proof.” Your purchase includes a one-year limited warranty.

Available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB

  • 128GB
    • Read: 880MB/s
    • Write: 480MB/s
    • Sustained Write: 100MB/s
  • 256GB
    • Read: 880MB/s
    • Write: 650MB/s
    • Sustained Write: 210MB/s
  • 512GB
    • Read: 880MB/s
    • Write: 650MB/s
    • Sustained Write: 220MB/s

SanDisk’s regular microSD Express Card is available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB models. All three capacities offer the same 880MB/s read speed, but, as noted above, there are differences in write and sustained write speeds.

At the moment, the prices for all three are pretty high compared to other cards on this list. Ironically, the main reason why these don’t offer solid value is because SanDisk’s 512GB Gameplay Express Card exists.

SanDisk will be releasing a Nintendo-licensed microSD Express Card with a Mario red color scheme and logo, but a release date still hasn’t been revealed. We do know that the licensed edition is the same card with a different look–just like the SanDisk Gameplay situation.

SanDisk currently manufactures 128GB and 256GB models of its microSD Express Cards.

Available in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB models

  • Read: 900MB/s
  • Write: 600MB/s

The Lexar Play Pro is the only microSD Express Card from a major brand that currently has a 1TB model. The 1TB Play Pro is sold out more often than not, and restocks for the $200 card go fast. We found a listing on Walmart for a 2TB Play Pro, so it will be interesting to see how much that one sells for.

128GB – $44.41 | 256GB – $53.32

  • Read: 890MB/s
  • Write: 550MB/s

Popular budget tech brand PNY has 128GB and 256GB microSD Express Cards. Both models are the cheapest in their respective capacities on Amazon.

Available in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB models

  • Read: 800MB/s
  • Write: Unavailable

GameStop sells branded microSD Express Cards, too. It’s unknown which manufacturer makes the card, but we’d stay clear of these because the write speed isn’t included on the product page. Even though the read speed is what matters most for Switch 2, we’d never recommend buying a storage device without knowing the write speed. Plus, you can get 256GB and 512GB models from known brands for less.

GameStop is one of the few companies offering a 1TB model, but it’s almost always sold out. The 512GB model is routinely sold out, too. We suspect this stems from very small print runs, not popularity. These cards only have a handful of customer reviews.

128GB – $48 | 512GB – $115

  • Read: 800MB/s
  • Write: 500MB/s

TeamGroup is a well-regarded budget manufacturer of microSD cards. The Apex is TeamGroup’s first card with Express tech. The Apex has only been available for a few weeks, but the 128GB and 512GB models are worth keeping on your radar for price drops.

TeamGroup’s prices are often noticeably lower than competitors. That’s not the case right now, but we wouldn’t be surprised if that changes in the future. For example, TeamGroup’s A2 Pro Plus 1TB microSD card regularly sells for around $60. To be clear, the A2 Pro does not work on Switch 2–though it is a solid option for the original Switch and Steam Deck.



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Lego Super Mario World Pixel Art Model Gets Rare Price Cut At Amazon And Walmart
Game Updates

Lego Super Mario World Pixel Art Model Gets Rare Price Cut At Amazon And Walmart

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The deal on Lego’s Super Mario World building set just got a little bit better. The rarely discounted 1,215-piece pixel art display model of Mario and Yoshi is on sale for $117 (was $130) at Amazon and Walmart. The $117 price is active as of August 24; we originally published this article on August 22 with a $119 deal price. That was the first-ever discount on the Lego Nintendo set for adults in the US. Lego Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi had maintained its $130 MSRP since its debut last October.

$117 (was $130)

Lego Super Mario World: Mario and Yoshi is a 1,215-piece set that authentically captures the pixelated aesthetic from the Super Nintendo era. It’s a fun build to piece together and a fitting display piece for all Super Mario fans, but especially those with a fondness for the 16-bit character designs.

The completed model is 15.5 x 10 x 4 inches and features several interactive components. There’s a dial behind Yoshi’s head that extends his tongue. The crank on the side of the base creates a more elaborate animation. Yoshi’s legs move to make it appear as if he is running. Adding to the illusion is the figure’s quick bouncing motion. Yoshi’s head inches forward and back, and Mario’s cape sways gently, just as it does in the game.

It also has an Action Tag, so if you own one of the Adventures with Lego Super Mario starter courses, the Interactive figures (Mario, Luigi, or Peach) will react.

Lego did a wonderful job making the instructions easy to follow. I used a combination of the physical instruction booklet and the Lego Builder app on iPad. The square pieces used to create the “pixel art” are numbered in the booklet, which was extremely helpful for me as someone with colorblindness.

Though technically part of Lego’s 18-plus “for adults” line, kids who have assembled sets in the 1,000-piece probably won’t have any issues.

Lego Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi is one of only eight Lego Nintendo display models designed for adults. Earlier this year, Lego launched a 1,972-piece Mario Kart display model for $170. The elaborate build features Mario’s iconic red kart and the first realistic Lego replica of the character’s modern 3D look.

On October 1, exactly one year after Lego Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi’s launch, Lego’s highly anticipated Game Boy replica will be available at major retailers and the Lego Store. The 421-piece display set only costs $60 and includes two buildable cartridges, three lenticular screens, multiple display stands, and several interactive features. Check out our Lego Game Boy preorder guide for more details, and keep in mind multiple retailers are sold out already.

Lego Nintendo Building Sets for Adults

The most affordable Lego Nintendo display model is the 540-piece Piranha Plant, which you can find on sale at Amazon and Walmart for just $48 (was $60).



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Preorder The Shining Film Vault Special Edition At Walmart Before It's Gone
Game Updates

Preorder The Shining Film Vault Special Edition At Walmart Before It’s Gone

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Stanley Kubrick and Stephen King fans can secure a preorder for a highly collectible 4K Blu-ray edition of The Shining at Walmart. Part of The Film Vault collector’s series, The Shining Special Edition Steelbook is available to order for $100 at Walmart ahead of its September 2 release in the US. Along with the steelbook case with new artwork, this limited-edition release comes with cigar box packaging, a double-sided poster, and a bunch of art cards. It looks like the ultimate collector’s version of the legendary horror movie, so snag a copy while you still can. A cheaper edition without the extras releases the same day. The Shining Solus Steelbook Edition is $65 and has sold out at least twice already.

Created by Vice Press in partnership with Warner Bros. UK, The Shining Special Edition is one of two early ’80s horror films in The Film Vault Wave 3. The Shining will launch alongside the 1982 supernatural horror film Poltergeist. Walmart is also taking preorders for Poltergeist’s Special Edition Steelbook and Poltergeist Solus Steelbook. Both editions were in stock at the time of writing. The Shining and Poltergeist Film Vault limited editions come with region-free 4K Blu-ray and 1080p Blu-ray discs.

The Film Vault Wave 3 at Walmart

$100 | Limited Edition | Releases September 2

  • Steelbook Case with exclusive artwork
  • Cigar Box with new artwork and Acetate O-Ring
    • Remove O-Ring for text-free display box
  • Numbered Holographic Sticker
  • Double-sided Movie Poster
    • Side 1: New poster by Matt Ferguson & Florey of Vice Press
    • Side 2: Retouched version of Saul Bass’ iconic Theatrical Poster
  • Art Cards
    • 5 Character Cards
    • 3 Behind-the-Scenes Cards
  • The Shining on 4K Blu-ray
  • The Shining & Special Features on Blu-ray

Note: Both of the Film Vault editions listed on Walmart’s site, along with a couple of other retailer-exclusive versions, sold out months ago in the UK and at specialty Blu-ray shops.

Walmart will almost certainly sell out of both editions before launch. If you missed out on the 2025 Walmart-exclusive Steelbook Edition of The Shining, now’s your chance to grab one that looks much cooler. But you may want to move fast. I wrote an article about Walmart’s The Shining Steelbook when preorders opened last December, and it sold out the following day.

The Film Vault: The Shining Special Edition

The Shining Special Edition Steelbook by Vice Press & Warner Bros. UK

The Film Vault places the movie title and other text on acetate O-rings, allowing fans to choose whether to display the cigar box with or without words and logos. The new artwork by Matt Ferguson and Florey looks beautiful. The cigar box has a large silhouette of Jack Torrance with the fireman’s axe overlooking (sorry) the Overlook Hotel. On the back is Jack’s typewriter, and there are even words on the paper–likely the same sentence over and over again. The artwork on the steelbook case recreates the scene where Jack trudges through the hedge maze.

The steelbook artwork is also featured on the double-sided movie poster. The other side is a retouched version of Saul Bass’ well-known poster that was created for The Shining’s 1980 theatrical release. The eight art cards showcase memorable shots from the film as well as behind-the-scenes production photographs.

If you’re unfamiliar with The Film Vault, it’s a series of collectible editions of classic movies from the Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures film catalogs. The Film Vault was created in 2022 by Vice Press, a UK company specializing in officially licensed movie collectibles and artwork. All of the 4K Blu-rays released by The Film Vault are region-free discs, but as a UK company, these limited-edition versions of all-time classics aren’t regularly found at US retailers. We suspect The Shining is exclusive to Walmart in the US.

The Film Vault: The Shining Steelbook Edition

The Shining Solus Steelbook Edition by Vice Press & Warner Bros. UK

At the time of writing, The Shining Solus Steelbook Limited Edition is sold out–but we’d recommend checking to see if Walmart restocked it. It has already received at least one restock. It was sold out when I first found the store page August 22, but I was able to order a copy on August 23, just a few hours before writing this story.

The above image provides a look at the back cover of the steelbook case and the hedge maze landscape artwork on the inside covers. Just like with the Special Edition, the Solus Steelbook comes with an acetate O-ring with with the title and other text. It is worth noting that the Special Edition’s O-ring is for the cigar box–you won’t get a second O-ring for the steelbook case.

$124 | 2-Book Hardcover Box Set (1,396 Pages)

If you are interested in a $100 edition of The Shining, it’s a safe bet that you or someone you know is a huge fan. As a massive fan myself, I can say that if I had to choose between a fancy new edition of The Shining on 4K Blu-ray or the recently released compendium about the film, I would pick the compendium without thinking twice.

Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is a two-volume, 1,396-page box set that offers a staggeringly comprehensive look at the making of the film. This beautiful slipcase collection was designed by M/M Paris and published by Taschen earlier this year.

Written by J.W. Rinzler and edited by Pixar director Lee Unkrich, this compendium is based on hundreds of hours of interviews and mountains of investigative research. The first book, which includes an introduction by Steven Spielberg, chronicles every step of the production. When I received my copy earlier this year, I was astounded by the level of detail provided throughout the roughly 900-page hardcover book. If there’s a more thorough making-of book about a single movie, I would be shocked. This book is nearly as long as all three volumes in Rinzler’s The Making of Star Wars series, which is also fantastic.

The box set also comes with a gorgeous scrapbook filled with a wide array of photographs, artwork, and documents related to the production of The Shining.

To put it simply: This compendium is the best collection of behind-the-scenes material–across any medium–I’ve ever read.

Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is in stock at Amazon for $124, but it’s unknown how many copies the publisher printed and whether it will receive additional print runs. Amazon sold out when preorders opened last summer, and the box set remained out of stock until a few months ago.



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Dow retreats 200 points amid Walmart earnings miss
GameFi Guides

Dow retreats 200 points amid Walmart earnings miss

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average wavered on Thursday as investors reacted to retail giant Walmart’s quarterly miss, with stocks opening lower as Wall Street turned its attention to the Federal Reserve’s key symposium at Jackson Hole.

Summary

  • Dow fell 200 points and S&P 500 and Nasdaq shed gains amid stocks retreat.
  • Walmart shares dipped after the company’s earnings report.
  • Investors are eyeing the Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole symposium.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 200 points at open, leading the pullback after bouncing to a record high on Wednesday. As the blue-chip index flipped lower, the benchmark S&P 500 shed 0.3% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite trimmed 0.3%.

Stocks dip amid Walmart earnings miss

While the bloodbath for mega-cap tech stocks cooled, a dip in Walmart (WMT) shares after the retail giant missed quarterly profit forecasts pulled the Dow lower. Walmart, however, raised its full-year sales and profit outlook.

Meanwhile, shorts have taken a rare edge in the stock market since the rally began in May, with sentiment down after sellers scored big on the sharp sell-off in tech stocks.

Analysts have pointed to Palantir Technologies’ streak of six losing sessions as a slide that has erased tens of billions in market value. Although the company’s stock ticked higher on Aug. 21, it remains more than 17% down from its Aug. 12 peak.

Bearish momentum across risk assets has also weighed on cryptocurrencies, with Bitcoin down over 4% in the past week to hover near $113k. Despite the dip, Coinbase founder and CEO Brian Armstrong has predicted BTC could reach $1 million by 2030.

Jackson Hole in focus 

As stocks struggle and investors retreat from risk-on assets, all eyes are firmly on this week’s key event, the Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole symposium. The gathering of policymakers and economists has the market focused not only on what Fed Chair Jerome Powell will say on Friday morning, but also on what his remarks signal about the future of interest rates.

That focus has sharpened after the Fed’s July minutes revealed the central bank is more concerned with sticky inflation than with weakness in the labor market.



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Current in-stock availability on consoles and games
Gaming Gear

Latest stock updates at Walmart, Best Buy and more

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The Nintendo Switch 2 has been available in the US for more than two weeks — but good luck finding one. While millions of people have been able to snag the $450 console since it officially went up for sale on June 5, online inventory dried up fairly quickly at most stores soon after launch and remains difficult to find today. Best Buy restocked as recently as June 23, but those units — which required in-store pickup — quickly went of out of stock. Target, likewise, has some stock in at least one locality we checked, but it requires in-store purchase. You may also be able to grab a bundle at Costco if you’re a member there. Otherwise, it’s been slim pickings. As of today, we’re not seeing almost no availability — though you may have different luck in your locality when checking inventory, online or in person.

Again, venturing to a physical retail store can sometimes be the winning hack here. We can’t guarantee you’ll still be able to snag a Switch 2 the old-fashioned way, but it’s worth checking if a local Target, Best Buy, Walmart or GameStop — the four official retailers Nintendo lists on its store page — still has consoles in stock. For now, you can skip Amazon, though: For whatever reason, the biggest online retailer doesn’t even have a product page for the Switch 2 (but it does seem to be selling games and accessories). All that said, if you’re still on the hunt, we’ve rounded up all of the latest information we could find on how to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 and where you can pick one up.

Walmart began online purchases at midnight ET on June 5. Currently, both the Mario Kart World bundle and the standalone console are “available” via third-party retailers, but listed for much higher than their standard $500 and $450 price tags — with limited quantities available. We wouldn’t recommend buying these; instead, wait for the console to be listed at its regular MSRP. Naturally, the world’s largest retailer is also selling the console at its brick-and-mortar locations, though the company has noted that quantities are limited and inventory will vary by location.

Best Buy started selling the Switch 2 at its retail locations on June 5. It previously said it wouldn’t sell the handheld at its online store during launch week, but it made additional consoles available on June 11 around 12PM ET, and again on June 23. Those restocks lasted for the better part of an hour and required in-store pickup, but the device is now sold out again.

Target had the Switch 2 in stores on June 5 and restocked its online inventory for at least a couple of hours starting around 3:30AM ET on June 6. It then had another restock on June 12 around 2:30PM ET, but that appears to have died out in less than an hour. As of June 24, we’re seeing in-store stock in at least one Philadelphia location.

One Philadelphia area Target was showing “limited stock,” but couldn’t be reserved online. (Target)

GameStop has advertised in-store availability, though exactly how much stock your local store may have will vary by location. Online, the device has been unavailable for the past week, with the listings for the base console and Mario Kart bundle now pointing to a “Find a Store” page. We saw a $625 bundle that includes Mario Kart World, a microSD Express card and a few other accessories pop up a bit more frequently than the standard SKUs, but it’s no longer listed (and it was kind of a raw deal anyway).

You may still have some luck at certain membership-based retailers. A Mario Kart World bundle at Costco that includes a 12-month Switch Online subscription has gone in and out of stock since launch day. Sam’s Club has had a bundle without the Switch Online sub as well, though it’s out of stock now. We also saw the console at BJ’s early on June 5, but it’s no longer live there.

Verizon briefly had the Switch 2 available on launch day, but that’s dried up. Only those with Verizon service were able to order, and the process was apparently somewhat rocky.

Amazon hasn’t had any form of Switch 2 listing on its website, nor has it listed Mario Kart World. The company didn’t take pre-orders for the Switch 2 either, so it’s unclear if and when it will sell the device. You can, however, find some Switch 2 games.

Newegg has listed the Switch 2 on its site for several weeks, but it’s given no indication as to when it’ll begin sales. It previous showed a couple listings from a third-party seller, but at massively inflated prices.

With all of these stores, we’ve seen the Mario Kart World bundle available in greater quantities online than the base console, which costs $50 less. But given that Mario Kart is the Switch 2’s biggest launch game and retails for $80 on its own, that may not be the worst thing.

Nintendo, meanwhile, is only offering the Switch 2 via an invite system. This requires you to have been a Switch Online member for at least 12 months and logged at least 50 hours of Switch 1 playtime as of April 2. It can’t hurt to sign up if you meet the criteria, but don’t expect it to bear fruit immediately — it’s taken weeks for many people who registered in April to receive their invite.

You can find a list of every Switch 2 retail listing we could find below. Just be aware that this is meant to be a reference, not a rundown of everywhere the device is available right this second.

Where to buy Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle:

Where to buy Switch 2:

Nintendo is selling a number of Switch 2 accessories alongside the console, from its (pricey) Pro Controller to cases to cameras for the new GameChat feature. Most of these became available on June 5. The same goes for games like Mario Kart World and the Switch 2 version of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Another big Switch 2 release, Donkey Kong Bananza, won’t be available until mid-July but is still up for pre-order now.

As of this publication, just about all Switch 2 games are broadly available. Stock for the accessories remains a little spottier, but most devices are still available at multiple retailers. Nintendo’s official Switch 2 carrying cases have been the main exceptions, so you may need to look to third-party alternatives if you want some protection for your console right away.

Mario Kart World ($80)

Donkey Kong Bananza ($70)

Additional Switch 2 games

Samsung microSD Express Card (256GB) for Nintendo Switch 2 ($60)

Joy-Con 2 bundle ($95)

Switch 2 Pro Controller ($85)

Switch 2 Camera ($55)

Hori Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Camera ($60)

Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip ($40)

Joy-Con 2 Wheels (set of 2) ($25)

Switch 2 All-in-One Carrying Case ($85)

Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector ($40)

Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set ($120)

Nintendo GameCube Controller for Switch 2 ($65)



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Current in-stock availability on consoles and games
Product Reviews

Latest stock updates at Target, Best Buy, Walmart and more

by admin


The Nintendo Switch 2 has been available in the US for more than two weeks — but good luck finding one. While millions of people have been able to snag the $450 console since it officially went up for sale on June 5, online inventory dried up fairly quickly at most stores soon after launch and remains difficult to find today. Target and Best Buy restocked shortly after launch, but those didn’t last long, and the latter required in-store pickup. You may also be able to grab a bundle at Costco if you’re a member there. Otherwise, it’s been slim pickings. As of today, we’re not seeing any availability — though you may have different luck in your locality when checking inventory, online or in person.

To that latter point, people had a bit more luck on launch week by venturing to a physical retail store. We can’t guarantee you’ll still be able to snag a Switch 2 the old-fashioned way, but it’s worth checking if a local Target, Best Buy, Walmart or GameStop — the four official retailers Nintendo lists on its store page — still has consoles in stock. For now, you can skip Amazon, though: For whatever reason, the biggest online retailer doesn’t even have a product page for the Switch 2 (but it does seem to be selling games and accessories). All that said, if you’re still on the hunt, we’ve rounded up all of the latest information we could find on how to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 and where you can pick one up.

Walmart began online purchases at midnight ET on June 5. Currently, both the Mario Kart World bundle and the standalone console are “available” via third-party retailers, but listed for much higher than their standard $500 and $450 price tags — with limited quantities available. We wouldn’t recommend buying these; instead, wait for the console to be listed at its regular MSRP. Naturally, the world’s largest retailer is also selling the console at its brick-and-mortar locations, though the company has noted that quantities are limited and inventory will vary by location.

Best Buy started selling the Switch 2 at its retail locations on June 5. It previously said it wouldn’t sell the handheld at its online store during launch week, but it made additional consoles available on June 11 around 12PM ET. That restock lasted for the better part of an hour and required in-store pickup, but the device is now sold out again.

Target had the Switch 2 in stores on June 5 and restocked its online inventory for at least a couple of hours starting around 3:30AM ET on June 6. It then had another restock on June 12 around 2:30PM ET, but that appears to have died out in less than an hour. It still looks to be fully sold out as we write this, but you should see if there’s any stock at the stores closest to you just to be safe.

GameStop has advertised in-store availability, though exactly how much stock your local store may have will vary by location. Online, the device has been unavailable for the past week, with the listings for the base console and Mario Kart bundle now pointing to a “Find a Store” page. We saw a $625 bundle that includes Mario Kart World, a microSD Express card and a few other accessories pop up a bit more frequently than the standard SKUs, but it’s no longer listed (and it was kind of a raw deal anyway).

You may still have some luck at certain membership-based retailers. A Mario Kart World bundle at Costco that includes a 12-month Switch Online subscription has gone in and out of stock since launch day. Sam’s Club has had a bundle without the Switch Online sub as well, though it’s out of stock now. We also saw the console at BJ’s early on June 5, but it’s no longer live there.

Verizon briefly had the Switch 2 available on launch day, but that’s dried up, and only those with Verizon service were able to order.

Amazon hasn’t had any form of Switch 2 listing on its website, nor has it listed Mario Kart World. The company didn’t take pre-orders for the Switch 2 either, so it’s unclear if and when it will sell the device. You can, however, find some Switch 2 games.

Newegg has listed the Switch 2 on its site for several weeks, but it’s given no indication as to when it’ll begin sales. It previous showed a couple listings from a third-party seller, but at massively inflated prices.

With all of these stores, we’ve seen the Mario Kart World bundle available in greater quantities online than the base console, which costs $50 less. But given that Mario Kart is the Switch 2’s biggest launch game and retails for $80 on its own, that may not be the worst thing.

Nintendo, meanwhile, is only offering the Switch 2 via an invite system. This requires you to have been a Switch Online member for at least 12 months and logged at least 50 hours of Switch 1 playtime as of April 2. It can’t hurt to sign up if you meet the criteria, but don’t expect it to bear fruit immediately — it’s taken weeks for many people who registered in April to receive their invite.

You can find a list of every Switch 2 retail listing we could find below. Just be aware that this is meant to be a reference, not a rundown of everywhere the device is available right this second.

Where to buy Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle:

Where to buy Switch 2:

Nintendo is selling a number of Switch 2 accessories alongside the console, from its (pricey) Pro Controller to cases to cameras for the new GameChat feature. Most of these became available on June 5. The same goes for games like Mario Kart World and the Switch 2 version of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Another big Switch 2 release, Donkey Kong Bananza, won’t be available until mid-July but is still up for pre-order now.

As of this publication, just about all Switch 2 games are broadly available. Stock for the accessories remains a little spottier, but most devices are still available at multiple retailers. Nintendo’s official Switch 2 carrying cases have been the main exceptions, so you may need to look to third-party alternatives if you want some protection for your console right away.

Mario Kart World ($80)

Donkey Kong Bananza ($70)

Additional Switch 2 games

Samsung microSD Express Card (256GB) for Nintendo Switch 2 ($60)

Joy-Con 2 bundle ($95)

Switch 2 Pro Controller ($85)

Switch 2 Camera ($55)

Hori Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Camera ($60)

Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip ($40)

Joy-Con 2 Wheels (set of 2) ($25)

Switch 2 All-in-One Carrying Case ($85)

Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector ($40)

Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set ($120)

Nintendo GameCube Controller for Switch 2 ($65)



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Current in-stock availability on consoles and games
Product Reviews

Latest stock updates at Best Buy, Walmart, Target and more

by admin


The Nintendo Switch 2 has been available in the US for more than two weeks — but good luck finding one. The $450 console officially went up for sale on June 5, and several retailers have offered it both online and in-store in the days since. While millions of people have been able to snag the device, online inventory dried up fairly quickly at most stores soon after launch and remains difficult to find today. Target and Best Buy restocked shortly after launch, but those didn’t last long, and the latter required in-store pickup. You may also be able to grab a bundle at Costco if you’re a member there. Otherwise, it’s slim pickings as of our latest sweep.

Broadly speaking, people had a bit more luck on launch week by venturing to a physical retail store. We can’t guarantee you’ll still be able to snag a Switch 2 the old-fashioned way, but it’s worth checking if a local Target, Best Buy, Walmart or GameStop — the four official retailers Nintendo lists on its store page — still has consoles in stock. Either way, if you’re still on the hunt, we’ve rounded up all of the latest information we could find on how to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 and where you can pick one up.

Walmart also began online purchases at midnight ET on June 5. Currently, both the Mario Kart World bundle and the standalone console are “available” via third-party retailers, but listed for much higher than their standard $500 and $450 price tags — with limited quantities available. We wouldn’t recommend buying these; instead, wait for the console to be listed at its regular MSRP. Naturally, the world’s largest retailer is also selling the console at its brick-and-mortar locations, though the company has noted that quantities are limited and inventory will vary by location.

Best Buy began selling the Switch 2 at its retail locations on June 5. It previously said it wouldn’t sell the handheld at its online store during launch week, but it made additional consoles available on June 11 around 12PM ET. That restock lasted for the better part of an hour and required in-store pickup, but the device is now sold out again.

Target had the Switch 2 in stores on June 5 and restocked its online inventory for at least a couple of hours starting around 3:30AM ET on June 6. It then had another restock on June 12 around 2:30PM ET, but that appears to have died out in less than an hour. It still looks to be fully sold out as we write this, but you should see if there’s any stock at the stores closest to you just to be safe.

GameStop has advertised in-store availability, though exactly how much stock your local store may have will vary by location. Online, the device has been unavailable for the past week, with the listings for the base console and Mario Kart bundle now pointing to a “Find a Store” page. We saw a $625 bundle that includes Mario Kart World, a microSD Express card and a few other accessories pop up a bit more frequently than the standard SKUs, but it’s no longer listed (and it was kind of a raw deal anyway).

You may still have some luck at certain membership-based retailers. A Mario Kart World bundle at Costco that includes a 12-month Switch Online subscription has gone in and out of stock since launch day. Sam’s Club has had a bundle without the Switch Online sub as well, though it’s out of stock now. We also saw the console at BJ’s early on June 5, but it’s no longer live there.

Verizon briefly had the Switch 2 available on launch day, but that’s dried up, and only those with Verizon service were able to order.

Amazon hasn’t had any form of Switch 2 listing on its website, nor has it listed Mario Kart World. The company didn’t take pre-orders for the Switch 2 either, so it’s unclear if and when it will sell the device. You can, however, find some Switch 2 games.

Newegg has listed the Switch 2 on its site for several weeks, but it’s given no indication as to when it’ll begin sales. It previous showed a couple listings from a third-party seller, but at massively inflated prices.

With all of these stores, we’ve seen the Mario Kart World bundle available in greater quantities online than the base console, which costs $50 less. But given that Mario Kart is the Switch 2’s biggest launch game and retails for $80 on its own, that may not be the worst thing.

Nintendo, meanwhile, is only offering the Switch 2 via an invite system. This requires you to have been a Switch Online member for at least 12 months and logged at least 50 hours of Switch 1 playtime as of April 2. It can’t hurt to sign up if you meet the criteria, but don’t expect it to bear fruit immediately — it’s taken weeks for many people who registered in April to receive their invite.

You can find a list of every Switch 2 retail listing we could find below. Just be aware that this is meant to be a reference, not a rundown of everywhere the device is available right this second.

Where to buy Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle:

Where to buy Switch 2:

Nintendo is selling a number of Switch 2 accessories alongside the console, from its (pricey) Pro Controller to cases to cameras for the new GameChat feature. Most of these became available on June 5. The same goes for games like Mario Kart World and the Switch 2 version of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Another big Switch 2 release, Donkey Kong Bananza, won’t be available until mid-July but is still up for pre-order now.

As of Friday afternoon, just about all Switch 2 games are broadly available. Stock for the accessories remains a little spottier, but most devices are still available at multiple retailers. Nintendo’s official Switch 2 carrying cases have bee the main exceptions, so you may need to look to third-party alternatives if you want some protection for your console right away.

Mario Kart World ($80)

Donkey Kong Bananza ($70)

Additional Switch 2 games

Samsung microSD Express Card (256GB) for Nintendo Switch 2 ($60)

Joy-Con 2 bundle ($95)

Switch 2 Pro Controller ($85)

Switch 2 Camera ($55)

Hori Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Camera ($60)

Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip ($40)

Joy-Con 2 Wheels (set of 2) ($25)

Switch 2 All-in-One Carrying Case ($85)

Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector ($40)

Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set ($120)

Nintendo GameCube Controller for Switch 2 ($65)



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Current in-stock availability on consoles and games
Product Reviews

Stock updates for Walmart, Target, Best Buy and more

by admin


You can finally buy the Nintendo Switch 2 in the US. The $450 console officially went up for sale on June 5, and several retailers have offered it both online and in-store in the week since. While millions of people have been able to snag the device, online inventory dried up fairly quickly at most stores last week and remains difficult to find today. There have been restocks at Target and Best Buy in recent days, but those didn’t last long, and the latter required in-store pickup. You may also be able to grab a bundle at Costco if you’re a member there. Otherwise, it’s slim pickings as of our latest sweep.

Broadly speaking, people had a bit more luck on launch week by venturing to a physical retail store. We can’t guarantee you’ll still be able to snag a Switch 2 the old-fashioned way, but it’s worth checking if a local Target, Best Buy, Walmart or GameStop — the four official retailers Nintendo lists on its store page — still has consoles in stock. Either way, if you’re still on the hunt, we’ve rounded up all of the latest information we could find on how to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 and where you can pick one up.

Best Buy began selling the Switch 2 at its retail locations on June 5. It previously said it wouldn’t sell the handheld at its online store during launch week, but it made additional consoles available on June 11 around 12PM ET. That restock lasted for the better part of an hour and required in-store pickup, but the device is now sold out again.

Walmart also began online purchases at midnight ET on June 5, but the console alone and the Mario Kart World bundle are out of stock as our latest update. Both SKUs briefly returned around 11:30PM ET on June 6, but we haven’t seen much in the week since. Naturally, the world’s largest retailer is also selling the console at its brick-and-mortar locations, though the company has noted that quantities are limited and inventory will vary by location.

Target had the Switch 2 in stores on June 5 and restocked its online inventory for at least a couple of hours starting around 3:30AM ET on June 6. It then had another restock on June 12 around 2:30PM ET, but that appears to have died out in less than an hour. It still looks to be fully sold out as we write this, but you should see if there’s any stock at the stores closest to you just to be safe.

GameStop has advertised in-store availability, though exactly how much stock your local store may have will vary by location. Online, the device has been unavailable for the past week, with the listings for the base console and Mario Kart bundle now pointing to a “Find a Store” page. We saw a $625 bundle that includes Mario Kart World, a microSD Express card and a few other accessories pop up a bit more frequently than the standard SKUs, but it’s no longer listed (and it was kind of a raw deal anyway).

You may still have some luck at certain membership-based retailers. A Mario Kart World bundle at Costco that includes a 12-month Switch Online subscription has gone in and out of stock since launch day. Sam’s Club has had a bundle without the Switch Online sub as well, though it’s out of stock now. We also saw the console at BJ’s early on June 5, but it’s no longer live there.

Verizon briefly had the Switch 2 available on launch day, but that’s dried up, and only those with Verizon service were able to order.

Amazon hasn’t had any form of Switch 2 listing on its website, nor has it listed first-party Switch 2 games like Mario Kart World. The company didn’t take pre-orders for the Switch 2 either, so it’s unclear if and when it will sell the device.

Newegg has listed the Switch 2 on its site for several weeks, but it’s given no indication as to when it’ll begin sales. It previous showed a couple listings from a third-party seller, but at massively inflated prices.

With all of these stores, we’ve seen the Mario Kart World bundle available in greater quantities online than the base console, which costs $50 less. But given that Mario Kart is the Switch 2’s biggest launch game and retails for $80 on its own, that may not be the worst thing.

Nintendo, meanwhile, is only offering the Switch 2 via an invite system. This requires you to have been a Switch Online member for at least 12 months and logged at least 50 hours of Switch 1 playtime as of April 2. It can’t hurt to sign up if you meet the criteria, but don’t expect it to bear fruit immediately — it’s taken weeks for many people who registered in April to receive their invite.

You can find a list of every Switch 2 retail listing we could find below. Just be aware that this is meant to be a reference, not a rundown of everywhere the device is available right this second.

Where to buy Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle:

Where to buy Switch 2:

Nintendo is selling a number of Switch 2 accessories alongside the console, from its (pricey) Pro Controller to cases to cameras for the new GameChat feature. Most of these became available on June 5. The same goes for games like Mario Kart World and the Switch 2 version of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Another big Switch 2 release, Donkey Kong Bananza, won’t be available until mid-July but is still up for pre-order now.

As of Friday afternoon, just about all Switch 2 games are broadly available. Stock for the accessories remains a little spottier, but most devices are still available at multiple retailers. Nintendo’s official Switch 2 carrying cases have bee the main exceptions, so you may need to look to third-party alternatives if you want some protection for your console right away.

Mario Kart World ($80)

Donkey Kong Bananza ($70)

Additional Switch 2 games

Samsung microSD Express Card (256GB) for Nintendo Switch 2 ($60)

Joy-Con 2 bundle ($95)

Switch 2 Pro Controller ($85)

Switch 2 Camera ($55)

Hori Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Camera ($60)

Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip ($40)

Joy-Con 2 Wheels (set of 2) ($25)

Switch 2 All-in-One Carrying Case ($85)

Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector ($40)

Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set ($120)

Nintendo GameCube Controller for Switch 2 ($65)



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Crypto Trends

Elizabeth Warren, Consumer Groups Slam Walmart and Amazon Stablecoin Plans

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In brief

  • Senator Elizabeth Warren and consumer advocacy groups denounced a report detailing plans by major retailers including Amazon and Walmart to potentially issue their own stablecoins.
  • The GENIUS Act, a stablecoin bill in the Senate, would as written allow major corporations to issue their own dollar-pegged cryptocurrencies.
  • Senate Democrats and select Republicans have warned this development could give major tech companies too much power.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and leading consumer advocacy groups denounced a report Friday that Amazon and Walmart are considering issuing their own stablecoins, framing such developments as an unacceptable outcome of pending stablecoin legislation in the Senate.

“Let’s not forget the GENIUS Act has a major loophole allowing Big Tech companies and major retailers to issue their own private currencies structured as stablecoins,” Warren said Friday in a statement shared with Decrypt. “If Congress doesn’t fix it, billionaires like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg could launch stablecoins that track your purchases, exploit your data, and squeeze out competitors.”

“Then they’ll come begging for a bailout when it inevitably blows up,” Warren continued. “The GENIUS Act shouldn’t pass without preventing these risks.” 

Amazon and other major merchants including Walmart and Expedia are mulling issuing their own stablecoins should the GENIUS Act imminently pass, a Wall Street Journal report revealed Friday. A spokesperson for Warren told Decrypt the senator, who is the Ranking Member on the Senate Banking Committee, denounces such plans.



Amazon, Walmart, and Expedia did not immediately respond to Decrypt’s requests for comment on this story. 

The GENIUS Act, which could pass a final vote in the Senate as soon as next week, would for the first time create a legal framework for issuing stablecoins in the United States.

Stablecoins are crypto tokens generally pegged to the U.S. dollar that allow holders to enter and exit crypto positions without accessing dollars directly. They are, for that reason, a key connector between crypto and traditional financial markets. 

Should the bill become law, numerous sectors have expressed interest in adopting or issuing stablecoins, including Big Tech firms and merchants. The motivations for doing so are diverse: tech companies could use stablecoins to gather key financial data about their customers’ spending habits, and merchants could use them to dodge traditional payment processors that charge them billions of dollars in fees every year.

Further, any issuer of a stablecoin could earn passive yield on their customers’ deposits, creating an incentive for most traditional finance players to enter the sector. Wall Street financial market infrastructure giant DTCC, for example—which processes U.S. stock trades—is currently exploring “the potential of issuing a DTCC stablecoin” for use in financial transactions, a company representative confirmed to Decrypt. The company’s stablecoin plans were first reported by The Information.

Last month, the GENIUS Act’s odds of passage were nearly derailed by Democratic opposition, which focused, among other subjects, on the bill’s potential to allow America’s largest tech corporations to create their own private currencies. Democrats did succeed in adding new language to the bill on the subject, but the legislation would still allow giant tech companies to issue stablecoins—and collect customers’ financial data from them—under easily met conditions.

“Alllowing the tech industry to issue private money will amplify financial stability risks,” Corey Frayer, director of investor protection at the Consumer Federation of America, told Decrypt. “The danger of a small set of corporations having immense power over consumers and the broader economy is why we separated banking from commercial ventures in the first place.”

“How can any independent business compete when the big guys are running unregulated bank side-hustles?” Amanda Fischer, policy director at consumer advocacy nonprofit Better Markets, wrote Friday on X.

3. Amazon/Walmart have outsized influence on vendors. Imagine you’re an independent seller, & now your revenue MUST be accepted in Amazon dollars. Maybe you have to pay an exchange fee to convert to $ or maybe Amazon punishes you on search results if you don’t maintain a balance

— Amanda Fischer (@amandalfischer) June 13, 2025

The GENIUS Act is currently in its final stretch of procedural hurdles, and is widely expected to pass early next week, given key Democrats have come back aboard the legislation. It would then need to pass the House before heading to President Donald Trump’s desk for signature. 

“The growing interest of major traditional companies in stablecoins signals that stablecoins—and blockchain-based financial infrastructure more broadly—are gaining serious traction beyond the crypto-native ecosystem,” Blockchain Association Policy and Legislative Analysis Manager Salah Ghazzal told Decrypt. “This marks a broader shift in how industries view the potential of digital assets, not just as speculative tools but as foundational infrastructure. Momentum like this adds urgency to getting stablecoin legislation passed.”

Though Republicans have eagerly pushed to get the bill passed, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) recently came out against it, in a rare intraparty rebuke of the high-priority legislation.

“It’s a huge giveaway to Big Tech,” Hawley told the New York Times last week. “It allows these tech companies to issue stablecoins without any kind of controls. I don’t see why we would do that.”

Edited by Andrew Hayward

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Amazon and Walmart Exploring Issuing Cryptocurrencies
Crypto Trends

Amazon and Walmart Exploring Issuing Cryptocurrencies

by admin


According to a Friday report by the Wall Street Journal, Amazon and Walmart are considering issuing their own dollar-backed cryptocurrencies. 

This would allow the American merchant powerhouses to potentially save billions in fees and speed up settlements by bypassing traditional payment systems.  

For now, such plans are only in exploratory stages, but they show that crypto finally has a mainstream use case. 

As reported by U.Today, Apple, Airbnb, and several other tech giants are also exploring corporate stablecoins. 

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Traditional financial institutions such as Bank of America and Fidelity are also preparing to join the trend. 

These moves come amid the impressive growth of the stablecoin sector and a rapidly improving regulatory environment. 

As reported by U.Today, the GENIUS Act, which is meant to regulate the stablecoin sector, advanced in the US Senate earlier this week. The final vote has been scheduled for June 17.  

Standard Chartered recently estimated that the stablecoin market could swell to a whopping $2 trillion in just three years.



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