GameStop Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Chaos

Who could forget when GameStop infamously sabotaged the Nintendo Switch 2 launch by stapling receipts directly through customers' console screens?

The retail giant is now humorously acknowledging the blunder in its latest Switch 2 restock advertisement. Posted to GameStop's social media, the tongue-in-cheek promotion states: "Staples not included." The accompanying image features the Switch 2 alongside a crossed-out red stapler labeled "Do Not Use On Box."

Reactions are mixed—while some applaud GameStop's self-awareness, others question why the company would joke about an incident that compromised countless consoles.

The controversy first erupted during the Switch 2's East Coast launch, primarily traced to a Staten Island GameStop location. Customers reported discovering their prized consoles punctured where receipts had been forcibly stapled to the thin packaging—a design flaw that left screens exposed.

Switch 2 restocks at GameStop today.

Staples not included. pic.twitter.com/ULR8bQzG0M

— GameStop (@gamestop) June 16, 2025

GameStop initially downplayed the issue as an isolated incident, offering replacements while mockingly confiscating "rogue" staplers in a viral Office Space meme reference. Followers remained skeptical, with one demanding: "Y'all better have replaced every damaged Switch 2"—to which GameStop confirmed compliance.

Despite GameStop's claims of a single-store mishap, IGN has fielded reports of identical damage from multiple retailers. The recurring problem has spotlighted Nintendo's questionable packaging design, where outward-facing screens remain vulnerable to mishandling. When pressed for comment, Nintendo deferred responsibility to retailers.

Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery

View 91 Images

As the stapler saga continues, it serves as both a cautionary tale and an unexpected marketing opportunity—proving that even retail disasters can be repurposed, if handled with humor and accountability. But for affected customers, the memory of that initial frustration may prove harder to erase than a staple hole in a brand-new screen.