Nintendo Store Chaos in Japan: Pre-Order Lottery Overwhelms Site, Scammers Emerge

For Nintendo enthusiasts in Japan, April 24, 2025, marks a significant date. This is when Nintendo was set to announce the winners of the Switch 2 pre-order lottery through the official My Nintendo Store. However, the overwhelming demand led to the My Nintendo Store website undergoing maintenance due to excessive traffic. Additionally, Nintendo issued a warning about phishing emails that were fraudulently claiming to be official Switch 2 pre-order lottery results.

The pre-order lottery for the Switch 2 in Japan began on April 2, with winners gaining the opportunity to purchase the console from the My Nintendo Store, scheduled for delivery on the launch date of June 5. According to a message from Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa, approximately 2.2 million people entered the first Switch 2 presale lottery, far surpassing the company's expectations. This high demand means that many hopefuls will 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 frenzy also provided an opportunity for scammers to circulate fake lottery results.

Japanese-speaking users on X have been proactive, 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 prompt users to click on a LINE messenger app link or make a payment through a dubious URL, urging immediate action to secure the 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."

Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery

View 91 Images

In the U.S., Nintendo updated its website to inform those who registered 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's launch. However, Nintendo assures that the shipping date will be confirmed upon purchase. They also suggest that pre-ordering from third-party retailers might offer a better chance of obtaining a Switch 2 at launch, despite the console already being sold out following overnight pre-orders.

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.

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-serve 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.