For Nintendo enthusiasts in Japan, April 24, 2025, marks an exciting day as Nintendo is set to announce the winners of the Switch 2 pre-order lottery through the My Nintendo Store. However, due to an overwhelming influx of traffic, Nintendo was forced to take the My Nintendo Store website offline for maintenance. Additionally, Nintendo issued an important warning regarding 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, offering winners the chance to purchase the console ahead of its launch on June 5. According to Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa’s message, an astonishing 2.2 million people entered the lottery, far surpassing the company's expectations and leaving many hopeful fans disappointed.
As the results of the first Switch 2 presale lottery were released today, eager fans flocked to the My Nintendo Store, causing Nintendo to take the site offline for maintenance. Simultaneously, scammers capitalized on the hype by sending out deceptive lottery results.
Japanese-speaking users on X (formerly Twitter) have been proactive, sharing screenshots of fraudulent emails and highlighting various forms of the scam. These emails, with subject lines like “You have won the Switch 2 lottery,” initially excite recipients but then prompt them to click on suspicious LINE messenger app links or pay through dubious URLs, often littered with emojis or slight misspellings of Nintendo in the email addresses.
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 to inform those who registered their interest in purchasing a Switch 2 from My Nintendo Store that delivery by the June 5 release date cannot be guaranteed. Consequently, invitation emails may arrive after the console's launch. However, Nintendo assures that shipping dates will be confirmed upon purchase. With the Switch 2 already sold out at third-party retailers following pre-orders opening overnight, Nintendo suggests that fans might have a better chance of securing the console at launch by pre-ordering from these retailers.
The challenges fans faced in pre-ordering the Switch 2 on April 24, coupled with Nintendo's warnings, indicate that the next-generation console will be in high demand and difficult to obtain around its launch date.
According to a FAQ posted to 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 will be dispatched "periodically" until the store opens purchases to everyone. The initial invitation emails will be sent on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible registrants who meet specific 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 purchased any Nintendo Switch Online membership.
- You must have maintained any paid Nintendo Switch Online membership for a minimum of 12 months.
- You must have opted in to share gameplay data and have accumulated at least 50 hours of total gameplay.
