For Nintendo fans in Japan, April 24, 2025, marks a significant date as the company reveals the winners of the Switch 2 pre-order lottery through the My Nintendo Store. However, due to overwhelming traffic, Nintendo had to temporarily shut down the website for maintenance. Additionally, the company issued a warning about phishing emails that falsely claim to be official Switch 2 pre-order lottery results.
Nintendo began accepting applications for the Switch 2 pre-order lottery on April 2 in Japan. Successful entrants would have the opportunity to purchase the console from the My Nintendo Store, with delivery scheduled for the launch date on June 5.
According to Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa, approximately 2.2 million people in Japan entered the initial Switch 2 presale lottery. This unprecedented demand exceeded the company's expectations, leaving many hopeful fans disappointed as they won't be able to secure the console on launch day.
As the results of the first Switch 2 presale lottery were announced on April 24, a surge of users attempting to access the My Nintendo Store caused Nintendo to take the site offline for maintenance. This frenzy also provided an opportunity for scammers to distribute fake lottery results.
Japanese-speaking users on X have been proactive in warning others by sharing screenshots of fraudulent emails and highlighting various scam versions. These deceptive emails typically use subject lines like “You have won the Switch 2 lottery” to mislead eager fans. The emails often contain links to LINE messenger or suspicious URLs requesting immediate payment to secure the console. The scams range from obvious attempts filled with emojis to more sophisticated ones with minor errors, such as misspellings in email addresses or non-Japanese URLs.
The official warning from the Japanese Nintendo Support account clarifies that, as of April 24, no lottery result emails have been sent out yet. They emphasize that any emails received before this date claiming to be from Nintendo are fraudulent.
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In the U.S., Nintendo updated its website to inform those who registered interest in purchasing a Switch 2 from the My Nintendo Store that they cannot guarantee delivery by the June 5 release date. Invitation emails might arrive after the console's launch. However, upon purchase, Nintendo will confirm the shipping date. The company suggests that pre-ordering from third-party retailers might offer a better chance at securing a Switch 2 at launch, despite these pre-orders selling out quickly overnight.
The challenges faced by fans trying to pre-order on April 24, combined with Nintendo's warnings, indicate that obtaining the next-gen console will be challenging around its launch period.
According to a FAQ posted on Nintendo’s website, the first batch of invitations for the My Nintendo Store in the U.S. will begin on May 8, 2025. Subsequent batches will be sent out periodically until the store opens to everyone. Initial invitation emails will be sent on a first-come, first-serve basis to eligible registrants meeting specific priority criteria. Those invited will have 72 hours from the time of the email to complete their purchase.
Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order invitation priority requirements:
- You must have purchased a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
- You must have maintained any paid Nintendo Switch Online membership for at least 12 months.
- You must have opted in to share gameplay data and have at least 50 hours of total gameplay time.
