"Switch 2 Chaos: My Nintendo Store Crashes, Scammers Exploit Pre-Order Lottery Frenzy in Japan"

For Nintendo enthusiasts in Japan, April 24, 2025, marks a significant day as Nintendo is set to announce the winners of the Switch 2 pre-order lottery through the My Nintendo Store. The overwhelming demand led to the My Nintendo Store website being taken offline 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.

Nintendo began accepting applications for the Switch 2 pre-order lottery in Japan on April 2. Those selected in the lottery would have the opportunity to purchase a Switch 2 from the My Nintendo Store, with delivery scheduled for the launch date on June 5.

In a message from Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa on the previous day, it was revealed that approximately 2.2 million people in Japan entered the first Switch 2 presale lottery. This number far exceeded Nintendo's expectations, indicating that many hopefuls would not secure a console on launch day.

As the results of the first Switch 2 presale lottery were released today, the rush to access Japan's My Nintendo Store was so intense that Nintendo had to take the site offline for maintenance. This surge in interest also prompted scammers to exploit the situation by sending out fake lottery results.

Japanese-speaking users on X (formerly Twitter) have been proactive in warning others, sharing screenshots of fraudulent emails and highlighting various scam versions. These deceptive emails, with subject lines like "You have won the Switch 2 lottery," could easily mislead eager fans. The emails typically urge recipients to click on a LINE messenger app link or make a payment through a dubious URL, often pressuring them to act quickly to secure their new console. The phishing attempts vary from obvious fakes filled with emojis to more sophisticated scams with minor errors, such as misspellings of "Nintendo" in email addresses and non-Japanese URLs.

The official warning from the Japanese Nintendo Support account clarifies: "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 to inform those who registered their interest in purchasing a Switch 2 from the 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's launch. However, Nintendo assures that the shipping date will be confirmed upon purchase. Nintendo also suggested that fans might have a better chance of securing a Switch 2 at launch by pre-ordering from third-party retailers, a recommendation that raises concerns given that Switch 2 pre-orders have already sold out overnight.

The challenges faced by fans trying to pre-order the Switch 2 on April 24, combined with Nintendo's warning, indicate that obtaining the next-gen console will be difficult around its launch.

According to a FAQ posted on Nintendo's website, the first batch of invitations for the My Nintendo Store in the U.S. will be sent starting May 8, 2025. Subsequent batches of invitation emails will be dispatched "periodically" until purchasing is opened to everyone.

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 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.