Maybe it’s hype. Maybe it’s FOMO. Or maybe it’s something more. Nintendo’s Switch 2 pre-orders seemed to remind everyone that fans of a console or franchise will display super-human powers of patience for waiting in line just to secure a purchase. I’ve seen a similar level of dedication in my recent trip to PAX East 2025, so, what draws people to wait hours in line for games and/or merch?
We live in a day and age where society values instant gratification. Patience has become less and less of a virtue as people demand same-day shipping or quick drive-thru services. Waiting? What’s that? And yet, despite this culture shift, we occasionally witness super-human displays of patience when people are willing to wait in line (in person) for something.
The Switch 2 pre-orders reminded me of this, as Game Stop did hold in-person pre-orders. People camped out late in the night into the wee hours in the morning. Many of them come from my generation–one that were used to seeing midnight releases regularly. Some saw this as a “return to form”, an invigoration within the gaming community. However, I don’t think the passion never really left, and we are all-too glad the opportunity presented itself.
At PAX East 2025 (like with previous years), staggering lines formed for PAX merch. They weren’t selling a brand-new console, but people arrived in droves simply to buy a shirt or jacket with the PAX logo on it. When I finally bit the bullet, I chose to book it to the shop first thing Friday morning. Even upon opening, I stood in line for an hour. An hour. And the wait for subsequent customers only grew longer.
Now, the Switch 2 pre-orders and PAX merch certainly fall in different tiers, but it holds common threads. When someone is passionate about a hobby, they will be willing to make concessions (such as time and money) to fulfill their desires to enjoy said hobby. In addition to that, we have the social aspect; the fact we are all waiting together for something we both are passionate about breeds comradery, which makes the wait all the more worth it.
Sure, FOMO and hype are definite factors that can drive individuals to wait in long lines that they would otherwise walk away from, but there are other, more intriguing reasons like sharing passions with others or collecting something of value in their perspective. Sure, a Switch 2 is just another piece of technology, but it’s price point will deter every person from having one in their household. Sure, there will be PAX jackets every year–but each year has a distinct theme and design. Not everyone needs to agree on this, but fans of video games place significant value on this “exclusivity” and desires to have a physical representation of their joy in their daily life.
Have you ever tolerated a long line for something you wanted so badly? Why did you do it? Please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.
The Boss Rush Podcast – A Podcast About Video Games
The Boss Rush Podcast is the flagship podcast of Boss Rush Media and The Boss Rush Network. Each week, hosts Corey Dirrig, LeRon Dawkins, Stephanie Klimov, and Pat Klein, as well as their friends, fellow content creators, developers, and industry veterans come together to discuss their week in gaming, including what they’ve been playing, a randomly chosen rotating weekly segment, the Boss Rush Banter of the week, answer community write-ins, and more. New episodes are released every Thursday. Members of The Boss Rush Network’s Patreon will receive the exclusive Pre-Show at any tier along with other perks.
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