05-06-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Nintendo's Switch 2 release draws eager buyers to S.F.'s Union Square store
Nintendo celebrated the launch of its Switch 2 video game console with a celebration at its new San Francisco store.
Nearly 50 people were in line Wednesday afternoon to enter the Union Square shop and get a preview of 'Mario Kart World,' the flagship launch game for the new console.
'I'm seeing people of all races and religions come together over video games and they're playing together, and Nintendo is such an awesome IP because there's so many different worlds to explore, so many different characters. … The line's down the block and around the corner,' said Nintendo fan Darren Stallcup, a San Francisco resident. 'I'm really excited for the future of San Francisco.'
The Japanese video game giant's hotly anticipated Switch 2 was set for release at 9 p.m. local time, when shoppers with reservations could buy it for two hours while supplies lasted.
Nintendo will have a 'stream of supply coming between launch date and the end of the year. Our goal is to obviously meet demand,' Doug Bowser, president of Nintendo of America, previously told the Chronicle. Online preorders sold out quickly last month, with reports of some being canceled.
Following 'Mario Kart World,' Nintendo is releasing 'Donkey Kong Bananza' in July, the first major game starring the gorilla character since 2014. 'Pokémon Legends: Z-A' is also coming in late 2025 to both the original Switch and Switch 2.
Aside from games, the Nintendo store sells clothing, accessories, home goods and collectibles like LEGO sets and jewelry.
The new store is one of a number of new openings in Union Square, including Shoe Palace, luxury watch stores from Breitling and a Rolex showroom operated by Kerns, and a new Zara flagship next year.
Retail brokers have previously said the area is seeing more tenant interest after dozens of business closures since the pandemic.
Chronicle photographer Lea Suzuki contributed to this report.
