For Nintendo enthusiasts in Japan, April 24, 2025, marks a significant date as Nintendo is set to announce the winners of the Switch 2 pre-order lottery through the official My Nintendo Store. The overwhelming interest in the console led to the My Nintendo Store website being taken down for maintenance due to excessive traffic. Additionally, Nintendo issued a warning about phishing emails that falsely claim to be official Switch 2 pre-order lottery results.
On April 2, Nintendo began accepting applications for the Switch 2 pre-order lottery in Japan. Those selected in the lottery would have the opportunity to purchase a 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 the day before the announcement, it was revealed that approximately 2.2 million people in Japan entered the first Switch 2 presale lottery. This figure far exceeded Nintendo's expectations, suggesting that many hopefuls will be disappointed come launch day.
As the results of the first Switch 2 presale lottery were set to be released today, the rush to check the results caused Nintendo to take the site offline for maintenance. This situation was exploited by scammers who sent out fraudulent lottery results.
Japanese-speaking users on X (formerly Twitter) have been sharing screenshots of these fraudulent emails, helping to identify various forms of the scam. The subject lines of these emails, such as "You have won the Switch 2 lottery," could easily mislead excited fans into thinking they've won.
These phishing emails typically request users to click on a LINE messenger app link or make a payment via a suspicious URL, urging immediate action to secure their new console. The scams range from easily recognizable ones filled with emojis to more convincing attempts with subtle errors like misspellings of "Nintendo" in the email address and non-Japanese URLs.
In response, 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 U.S., Nintendo updated its website with information regarding release-day delivery, warning those who had registered their interest in purchasing a Switch 2 from My Nintendo Store that delivery by the June 5 release date could not be guaranteed.
As a result, invitation emails might arrive *after* the Switch 2 launch. However, Nintendo assured that it would confirm the shipping date upon purchase. Given the rapid sell-out of pre-orders overnight, Nintendo now suggests that fans might have a better chance of obtaining a Switch 2 at launch by pre-ordering from third-party retailers.
The challenges faced by fans in pre-ordering the Switch 2 on April 24, coupled with Nintendo's warning, indicate that securing the next-gen console will be difficult at and around its launch.
According to a FAQ on Nintendo’s website, the first batch of invitations for the My Nintendo Store in the U.S. will begin on May 8, 2025. Additional batches will be sent out "periodically" until purchasing is opened to everyone.
The initial invitation emails will be sent on a first-come, first-serve basis to "eligible registrants who meet the priority criteria." Those invited will have 72 hours from the time the email is sent to complete their purchase.
Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order invitation priority requirements:
- You must have been the one who purchased any Nintendo Switch Online membership.
- You must have had any paid Nintendo Switch Online membership for a minimum of 12 months.
- You must have opted in to share gameplay data and have at least 50 hours total gameplay hours.
