The provided source material details promotional offers and launch events for two major gaming products: the Nintendo Switch 2 console and the World of Warcraft: Midnight expansion. These events involve opportunities for consumers to obtain free items, early access, and other benefits, though they are specific to the gaming sector and not the broader categories of beauty, baby care, or household goods typically associated with free sample programmes. The information is derived from retailer announcements and official publisher materials.
Nintendo Switch 2 Midnight Launch Offers
Best Buy, a major US retailer, has announced plans for a midnight launch event for the Nintendo Switch 2, scheduled for 12:01 AM ET on Thursday, 5 June 2025. According to the retailer’s website, in addition to fulfilling pre-orders, most stores will have limited inventory of the console, games, and accessories available for purchase. A key promotional detail is the offer of a free Nintendo collectible for customers attending the launch.
The collectibles are described as items unique to Best Buy, likely produced in collaboration with Nintendo. While not specified in the announcement, historical precedent suggests these could be coins, lanyards, or acrylic items. These items are intended as mementos for the launch event. The offer is subject to limited quantities, with a restriction of one collectible per party.
This event is positioned as a significant retail moment, with Best Buy anticipating sufficient stock to meet pre-order demand and have inventory remaining for in-store sale. The launch is part of a broader tradition of midnight releases for video game consoles.
World of Warcraft: Midnight – Pre-Purchase Benefits and Early Access
World of Warcraft: Midnight, the second chapter in the Worldsoul Saga, is scheduled for release on 2 March 2026 for PC. Blizzard Entertainment has made the expansion available for pre-purchase through Battle.net in three editions: Base, Heroic, and Epic. Each edition includes the base game and bonus items, with higher tiers offering more extensive benefits.
All editions of World of Warcraft: Midnight include The War Within expansion and a Level 80 Character Boost. A critical benefit across all tiers is early access to the new Player Housing system. The Base Edition grants housing early access, while the Epic Edition includes a three-day early access period to the expansion itself and a dedicated Housing Bundle.
The Epic Edition’s Housing Bundle includes themed decor items: Light-Infused and Void-Corrupted Rotundas (gazebos), Light-Infused and Void-Corrupted Fountains, and four character portraits (Alleria, Turalyon, Arator, and Xal'atath). Epic Edition owners will be able to purchase additional copies of these decor items in-game with gold at a later date. The Epic Edition also includes beta access to the expansion, 30 days of game time, and other in-game items such as mounts and pets.
The Player Housing system is described as a core feature of the expansion, allowing players to acquire a home in Azeroth at no cost, with no lotteries or upkeep required. Homes can be decorated and shared across a player’s Warband. The system includes public and private neighbourhoods, with community hubs and monthly events to unlock themed decorations. Early access to housing is scheduled to go live on 2 December 2025, preceding the full expansion launch.
Summary of Eligibility and Access
For the Nintendo Switch 2 launch, eligibility is based on physical attendance at a Best Buy store during the midnight opening on 5 June 2025. The free collectible is available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.
For World of Warcraft: Midnight, access to early benefits is tied to pre-purchase through the official Battle.net platform. The specific benefits, including early housing access, depend on the edition purchased. All players must have an active World of Warcraft subscription or game time, a Battle.net account, and the Battle.net desktop app to participate.
Conclusion
The provided sources outline specific promotional offers for two gaming products. Best Buy’s Nintendo Switch 2 midnight launch offers a free physical collectible, while Blizzard’s pre-purchase programme for World of Warcraft: Midnight provides digital benefits, most notably early access to the Player Housing system. These offers are time-bound and subject to availability. Consumers interested in these opportunities should consult the official retailer or publisher websites for the most current terms and conditions.