Switch 2 Chaos, Retro Side Quests, and a Papal Sign-Off

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This week’s TechIn5 is a Nintendo special — because when the Switch 2 dropped, so did every single retailer’s website.

We’ve got the full blow-by-blow from launch night, a few actual tips for folks who missed out, a heartfelt goodbye to the OG Switch, and a moment of unexpected reflection for a digital-age pope who left a real mark on the tech world. All that — and somehow, Bitcoin made it into dinner conversation?

Let’s plug in.

🕛 The Switch 2 Preorder Battle Was Real — And Walmart Won

You’ve seen the headlines. Maybe you’ve got the preorder confirmation. Maybe you’ve got… trauma. Either way, the night of April 24 was pure preorder chaos — and our own Trevor Barnes was deep in the trenches.

Here’s how it went down:

• Best Buy: Launched 30 minutes late. Used the dreaded “You’re in line” screen. Kicked more people than a Mario Party minigame. Big flop.
• Target: Mobile app worked early… until it didn’t. Website straight-up exploded. Orders were placed, then canceled faster than you can say “restock.”
• Walmart: Unexpected hero. Clean launch. Smooth virtual queue. Gave people 10 minutes to check out. Trevor snagged his bundle. 🏆

🎙️ “Walmart was the Rainbow Road of retailers — chaotic, but if you held on, it got you there.”

— Trevor

🎮 Switch 2 Preorders Are (Finally) Happening — Here’s My Plan of Attack

😅 That Feeling When the Preorder Clock Is Ticking… I’ll be real with you: I’ve got way too many tabs open right now. Not just in Chrome — in my brain. Preorders for the Nintendo Switch 2 go live tonight at midnight Eastern (April 24), and I’m gearing up

TechInformTrevor Barnes

Switch 2 Preorders Were Chaos — But Walmart Came Through Like a Champ

Last night was stressful. Not in the “forgot to do your taxes” kind of way, but in the “I had three tabs open, heart racing, and was ready to click like my life depended on it” kind of way. When preorders for the Nintendo Switch 2 dropped at midnight, I

TechInformTrevor Barnes

🧭 Missed It? Here’s What To Actually Do Now

If you didn’t get a preorder, take a breath. No shame. No FOMO necessary. Trevor broke down five real strategies for surviving the Switch 2 drought — and they actually make sense:

1. Set up stock alerts with NowInStock or Discord bots.
2. Stick with the OG Switch — especially if you haven’t touched your backlog.
3. Try a handheld PC like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally — they’re stronger than the Switch 2 and in stock.
4. Go retro — 3DS and Wii U libraries are still alive and beautiful.
5. Ask yourself: do I need it now, or am I just caught in the hype?

💬 “The Switch 2 is cool. But so is finishing Metroid Dread before November.”

— Trevor

🎮 The Original Switch Deserves Its Flowers

Before we all jump to the next-gen hype train, let’s pour one out for the OG Switch. It launched with skepticism, survived Joy-Con drift, and still became one of the most beloved consoles ever.

✅ Dock it. Take it on a plane. Hide it under your pillow.

✅ Breath of the Wild, Animal Crossing, Mario Odyssey, Smash Ultimate… come on.

✅ It made handheld gaming fun again.

🎙️ “It wasn’t the most powerful console. But it was the most personal.”

— Trevor

The Original Switch: Nintendo’s Big Swing That Actually Hit

From Skepticism to Stardom: How the Switch Won Us Over I didn’t line up at midnight for the original Switch — I picked mine up a few months later, mostly because I really wanted to play Mario Kart on something other than my old Wii. Breath of the Wild wasn’

TechInformTrevor Barnes

📚 Bonus Bits: Bitcoin, Explained (Finally)

Trevor’s wife asked him what Bitcoin actually is — and instead of spiraling into crypto buzzword soup, he gave her the cleanest breakdown we’ve ever seen.

It’s not financial advice. It’s a human conversation.

💰 “Bitcoin is digital cash you send without a bank. It’s secure, scarce, and lives on a giant spreadsheet everyone can see.”

Bitcoin, Explained: A Conversation That Finally Made It Click

“So…what is Bitcoin, really?” We got to talking the other night, and my wife asked the one question that always trips people up. Not because it’s hard to understand once you get it—but because Bitcoin is notoriously tricky to explain without sounding like you’ve joined a

TechInformTrevor Barnes

🕊️ Pope Francis: The Tech-Aware Shepherd

We don’t usually end on a quiet note here at TechIn5, but this one mattered.

Pope Francis passed away at 88 — and while he wasn’t a tech guy in the traditional sense, he understood the digital world in a way few global leaders do. He championed ethical AI, blessed coders, and even elevated a teen saint who loved JavaScript.

🙏 “He didn’t just log on — he brought compassion with him.”

The Wi-Fi Is Strong in Heaven: Remembering Pope Francis, My Favorite Pope

🕊️ Intro – The Shepherd I Didn’t Expect to Admire I’m not Catholic. I wasn’t raised going to Mass. But Pope Francis was — hands down — my favorite pope. Maybe my favorite public figure, full stop. And when news broke of his passing at age 88, it hit me harder

TechInformTrevor Barnes

🧱 Final Word: Stress Bought a Console, Found Some Peace

This week was classic 2025:

👉 A midnight preorder mess

👉 A surprise win for Walmart

👉 Retro gaming renaissance

👉 Bitcoin over dinner

👉 And a pope who taught us presence still matters

If your cart crashed or your order got canceled — breathe. The Switch 2 will restock. And your old Switch? Still rules.

👋 See you next Friday. Charge your Joy-Cons, hug your OLED, and maybe… check Walmart just one more time. You never know.

— Trevor Barnes

Editor & Digital Cart-Jockey, TechInform.us