For Nintendo fans in Japan, April 24, 2025, marks a significant day as Nintendo reveals the winners of the Switch 2 pre-order lottery through the My Nintendo Store. The overwhelming demand caused the My Nintendo Store website to go down for maintenance due to excessive traffic. Additionally, Nintendo issued a warning about phishing emails that mimic official Switch 2 pre-order lottery results.
Nintendo began accepting applications for the Switch 2 pre-order lottery in Japan on April 2. The lucky winners would secure the opportunity to purchase the Switch 2 from the My Nintendo Store, with delivery scheduled for the console's launch on June 5.
In a message from Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa yesterday, it was revealed that approximately 2.2 million people entered the first Switch 2 presale lottery in Japan. This staggering number far exceeded Nintendo's expectations, leading to disappointment for many hopeful fans who won't be able to get the console on launch day.
As the results of the first Switch 2 presale lottery were announced today, the rush to access the My Nintendo Store in Japan led to the site being taken offline for maintenance. Meanwhile, scammers capitalized on the excitement, sending out fake lottery result emails.
Japanese-speaking users on social media platform X took to warning others by sharing screenshots of these fraudulent emails, highlighting various forms of the scam. The subject lines, claiming "You have won the Switch 2 lottery," would have initially excited many Nintendo enthusiasts.
These deceptive emails either prompted users to click on a LINE messenger app link or to make immediate payments through dubious URLs, urging quick action to secure their new console. The phishing attempts varied from easily recognizable fakes filled with emojis to more sophisticated scams with subtle errors, such as misspellings of "Nintendo" in email addresses and the use of non-Japanese URLs.
The official warning from the Japanese Nintendo Support account clarified, "Although we plan to send out the lottery result emails today (April 24), we have not sent them yet. Please be aware that any such emails that you have received up until now were not sent by Nintendo."
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In the United States, Nintendo updated its website to inform those who registered interest in purchasing a Switch 2 from the My Nintendo Store that delivery by the June 5 release date could not be guaranteed. Consequently, invitation emails might arrive after the console's launch. However, Nintendo assured that the shipping date would be confirmed upon purchase. Given the immediate sell-out of pre-orders at third-party retailers overnight, Nintendo suggested that fans might have a better chance of obtaining a Switch 2 at launch by pre-ordering from these outlets.
The challenges faced by fans trying to pre-order the Switch 2 on April 24, combined with Nintendo's warning, indicate that securing the next-gen console will be difficult around its launch date.
According to a FAQ posted on Nintendo’s website, the initial batch of invitations for the My Nintendo Store in the U.S. will be sent starting May 8, 2025. Subsequent batches will be dispatched "periodically" until the purchasing window is opened to all. These initial invitation emails will be sent on a first-come, first-served basis to "eligible registrants who meet the priority criteria." Recipients 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 any 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 accumulated at least 50 hours of total gameplay.
