Midnight launches are supposed to be pure hype—but for some Nintendo Switch 2 fans, the excitement turned into heartbreak fast.
Multiple reports have emerged of Switch 2 consoles arriving damaged, and not from rough shipping or a manufacturing defect—but from retailers stapling receipts directly into the front of the console box, puncturing the screens inside.
Yes, you read that right. Receipts. Stapled. Through the box.
😬 How Did This Happen?
The issue appears to be most prevalent at a GameStop location in Staten Island, NY, where dozens of customers picked up their pre-ordered consoles at a midnight release event. Photos and videos shared online show long lines outside the store—and now, unfortunately, a growing number of damaged Switch 2 units.
“GameStop stapled the receipt for me and my friends’ Switch 2s to the box. FML,” one devastated fan posted, sharing a photo of their screen damage.
Another user on Reddit shared,
“Midnight release went bad for me. Looks like the whole batch got stapled. Over 100 people were there.”
Screenshots and social posts show receipts punched clean through the thin cardboard and the flimsy plastic sleeve holding the Switch 2’s main unit—meaning the staples hit the screen directly.
📦 A Packaging Problem Too?
While GameStop is catching most of the heat, some fans are also questioning Nintendo’s packaging choices. The Switch 2 is packed with its screen facing outward at the top of the box, and there’s surprisingly little padding to protect it.
“It’s kinda wild that the most important part of the console has almost no protection,” one user noted.
“You’re going to hear about a few damaged screens in the coming days. They’re at risk just being stacked in shipping.”
📣 What Are GameStop and Nintendo Saying?
As of now, neither GameStop nor Nintendo have issued a public statement in response to the reports. Some fans have taken to social media to tag both companies directly, hoping for replacements or at least some acknowledgment of the issue.
😓 The Fallout
For fans who waited months for this console—and maybe even camped out at midnight launches—this is a pretty rough twist. With Switch 2 restocks expected to be limited, some affected players fear they’ll have to wait weeks (or even months) for a replacement.
“Think the entire pre-order batch is completely f***ed,” one user wrote on Reddit.
“Me and my homie here (we never met before) were unfortunately at the same GameStop and this happened to me and another buddy!”
💡 Summary
- Stapled receipts have damaged screens on multiple Switch 2 units, especially in Staten Island.
- The console’s fragile packaging design is partly to blame.
- Fans are frustrated, calling out both GameStop and Nintendo.
- No official response yet—but expect this to make headlines as more units are unboxed.
If you haven’t opened your Switch 2 yet: check for staples first. Seriously.
And retailers: maybe… don’t staple anything to the box next time?
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