Remember when retail giant GameStop ruined the launch of Switch 2 for hundreds of customers by stapling receipts through the screens of Nintendo’s new console?
Well, GameStop certainly does, as its latest Nintendo Switch 2 advert leans into the snafu to advertise the next wave of console stock arriving in its stores.
“Staples not included,” states the advert, posted to GameStop’s social media account. “Find a Switch 2 restock at GameStop today.” An accompanying image shows the Switch 2 console and a red stapler — with the words “Do Not Use On Box” scribbled on it.
While some fans have reacted to the advert with humor, others suggested it was odd for the retailer to be doubling down on its expensive error that ruined stock worth thousands of dollars.
IGN first reported on GameStop’s Switch 2 stapler issue just hours after the console launched on the U.S. East Coast, with most reports of stapler damage centred on a single GameStop store in Staten Island, New York.
Impacted customers told IGN they discovered their damaged consoles after returning home to unbox and begin playing their new purchases — only to find their console screens punctured where stapers had been used to affix receipts onto the Switch 2’s thin cardboard box.
Switch 2 restocks at GameStop today.
Staples not included. pic.twitter.com/ULR8bQzG0M
— GameStop (@gamestop) June 16, 2025
Of course, this isn’t the first time GameStop has made light of the incident. The chain’s social media account later said it had “addressed a unique case of staples damaging Switch 2 screens — isolated to one store.”
“Replacements have been offered,” GameStop wrote, alongside a GIF showing a scene from 1999 comedy film Office Space where a clueless employee has their office equipment taken away. “Staplers have been confiscated.”
Responding to GameStop’s latest stapler reference, one customer wrote: “Yall better had replaced every Switch 2 that got those staples in the first place.” GameStop replied to say it had now done so. “Auction off the stapler that ruined everything,” said another customer, to which GameStop responded with a thinking emoji.
While GameStop has characterised the issue as an unfortunate mistake made by one specific store, IGN has been contacted by customers of other retailers who have experienced similar screen damage due to their Switch 2 boxes being stapled. Indeed, fans have questioned Nintendo’s choice of packaging for the Switch 2 in general — with the console’s screen positioned facing outwards, leaving it liable to damage.
IGN prevously contacted Nintendo about the issue, though the company simply referred us back to GameStop’s own acknowledgement.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
