GameStop store stapled receipts right to Switch 2 boxes and ended up cracking screens. All because the A/C was broken

The Switch 2 launch day didn’t go smoothly for everyone. I was lucky enough to get mine on time without any delays or cancelations (thankfully!), and I finally get to see how Cyberpunk 2077 and Tears of the Kingdom run on the new console. But as it turns out, there was a totally unexpected mess. One GameStop store made a huge mistake, and now a bunch of consoles are ruined.

A Nintendo Switch 2 launch day that couldn’t have gone worse

Something unpredictable went down in Staten Island, New York. On June 4th, people lined up old-school style, waiting until midnight to grab their new Switch 2 right at the counter. But some customers got a nasty surprise. GameStop had stabled the receipt directly to the console box. And while a damaged box is one thing, it gets worse. Nintendo packed the Switch 2 in a rather strange way, with the screen facing up and protected only by some foil and a thin layer of cardboard.

A few posts on X blew up, showing photos of pure nightmare – Switch 2 screens cracked. For a bit, no one really knew how long it would take to get a replacement, it could take even up to three months. Just imagine waiting all that time for launch day, and then this happens. Even if there aren’t a ton of new games out yet, I’d be seriously crushed. Luckily, GameStop came through and got exchanges out within 24 hours.

This is a pretty questionable packaging choice. Kind of shocked Nintendo didn’t add more protection.

Someone broke it all down in a Reddit post, and it turns out the reason GameStop employees used a stapler was because the A/C was busted. The store was hot and humid, and the tape just wasn’t sticking to the boxes, receipts kept falling off. So they were told to just staple them on. A pretty unfortunate call that could actually end up costing people their jobs.

• Nintendo
• GameStop
• Switch 2