For Nintendo enthusiasts in Japan, April 24, 2025, marks a significant day as Nintendo prepares to announce the lucky winners of its official My Nintendo Store pre-orders for the highly anticipated Switch 2. However, the excitement surrounding this event came with challenges. Due to overwhelming traffic, Nintendo temporarily shut down the My Nintendo Store website for maintenance. Additionally, the company issued a stern warning about phishing emails impersonating legitimate Switch 2 pre-order notifications.
On April 2, Nintendo initiated an application process for the Switch 2 pre-order lottery in Japan. The winners of this lottery would receive the opportunity to purchase a Switch 2 directly from My Nintendo Store, with deliveries scheduled for June 5. According to Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa, approximately 2.2 million people in Japan applied for the initial lottery. This unprecedented demand surpassed expectations, leaving many hopeful buyers disappointed.
Today, as the results of the first Switch 2 pre-order lottery were released, the surge in traffic overwhelmed the My Nintendo Store website, prompting Nintendo to take it offline for maintenance. Opportunistic scammers capitalized on the frenzy by circulating fake lottery results through misleading emails. Japanese users on X platforms shared screenshots of these fraudulent communications, revealing multiple iterations of the scam. While the subject lines promised joyous news of winning the lottery, the emails urged recipients to click on suspicious links or pay immediately via dubious URLs.
Nintendo’s official statement clarified that any emails claiming to announce lottery results prior to April 24 were unauthorized. The company emphasized that it had not yet sent out official notifications.
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In the United States, Nintendo updated its website regarding release-day delivery options. Those who registered interest in purchasing a Switch 2 from My Nintendo Store were informed that guaranteed delivery by the June 5 launch date could not be assured. Consequently, invitation emails might arrive after the console's release. Nintendo assured customers that shipping dates would be confirmed upon purchase. As a result, the company recommended third-party retailers as a viable alternative for securing a Switch 2 at launch, given the console's rapid sell-out following pre-orders.
The difficulties faced by fans attempting to pre-order the Switch 2 on April 24, combined with Nintendo's warning, suggest that acquiring the next-generation console early will be exceptionally challenging.
A FAQ section on Nintendo’s website outlined the pre-order invitation process for the U.S. market. Invitations will begin to be sent starting May 8, 2025, to eligible registrants meeting priority criteria. Subsequent batches of invitations will follow periodically until the platform becomes available to all. Initial invitations will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis among qualified applicants.
Priority Requirements for Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders:
- You must have purchased any Nintendo Switch Online membership.
- You must have maintained a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership for a minimum of 12 months.
- You must have opted into sharing gameplay data and accumulated at least 50 hours of total gameplay.
