Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Marred by Damaged Screens from Stapled Receipts
The long-awaited launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 was meant to be a celebration for fans, but many were instead met with frustration as their brand-new consoles arrived with punctured screens. The culprit? Stapled receipts driven directly through the flimsy front of the retail box.
Images and videos have surfaced across social media, particularly pointing to a Staten Island GameStop branch, where employees stapled paper receipts straight through the packaging. Because of Nintendo’s packaging choice – placing the console with its screen flush against a thin cardboard layer – the staples pierced the display itself in many cases.
One Reddit user wrote, “Midnight release went bad for me. Everyone there had the same thing done. Over 100 people. Just madness.” Another shared a picture of their damaged screen with the caption: “They stapled the receipt to the box at 1756 Forest Ave, Staten Island. Now I’ve got holes in the display.”
While GameStop has issued a statement acknowledging the issue and promising to “make customers whole,” frustration still simmers among early adopters. Some blame lies with the retailer, but fans also question Nintendo’s packaging design – with many pointing out that even a thin layer of foam, or simply flipping the orientation of the console inside the box, could have prevented this disaster.
“It’s 2025. Who still staples receipts directly onto retail packaging?!” one commenter ranted. Others pointed out that packaging for modern electronics is often minimal to cut costs and reduce environmental waste – but that’s no excuse for failing to protect a $450 device’s most fragile component.
To make matters worse, fans are reporting inconsistent experiences across retailers. While GameStop’s mishandling drew ire, others praised Walmart and Best Buy for smoother, damage-free launches – with one even getting free snacks and soda along with their console.
Ultimately, this fiasco has exposed a vulnerability in Nintendo’s packaging strategy and a training gap in some retail staff. While the stapling was avoidable, the box design didn’t help. This incident highlights how even small oversights in product presentation can have real consequences – especially on launch day, when fan expectations are at their peak.
And for collectors, the damage isn’t just cosmetic – resale value tanks when the box or unit is marked. “I don’t even care about reselling,” said one user. “But it’s just painful seeing something brand new come out the box damaged.”
Hopefully, Nintendo and retailers take this as a learning moment. Launch day should be a celebration, not a tech support ticket.