Chaos in Japan as My Nintendo Store Crashes Amid Switch 2 Pre-Order Lottery Frenzy, Scammers Emerge

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. However, the overwhelming demand led to the temporary shutdown of the My Nintendo Store website for maintenance. Amidst this, Nintendo issued a crucial warning regarding phishing emails that falsely claim 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 securing the chance to purchase the console ahead of its launch on June 5. In a message dated yesterday, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa revealed that approximately 2.2 million individuals entered the first lottery, far surpassing initial expectations. This high demand means that many hopefuls will not be able to secure a console on launch day.

As the results of the first Switch 2 presale lottery were released today, the rush to check the outcomes overwhelmed Japan's My Nintendo Store, prompting Nintendo to take the site offline for maintenance. Concurrently, scammers capitalized on the excitement by sending out fraudulent lottery result emails.

On social media platforms like X, Japanese users have been sharing screenshots of these deceptive emails, highlighting various scams. These phishing emails, which falsely claim "You have won the Switch 2 lottery," trick recipients into clicking on suspicious links or making immediate payments. The scams vary from those filled with emojis to more convincing attempts that only feature minor errors, such as misspellings in email addresses or non-Japanese URLs.

The official warning from Nintendo's Japanese Support account clarifies that, as of April 24, no lottery result emails have been sent out yet, and any such emails received prior to this are not from Nintendo.

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In the United States, Nintendo has updated its website, informing those interested in purchasing a Switch 2 via My Nintendo Store that delivery by the June 5 release date cannot be guaranteed. As a result, invitation emails might arrive after the console's release. However, Nintendo assures customers that the shipping date will be confirmed upon purchase. Additionally, Nintendo suggests that securing a Switch 2 at launch might be more feasible through third-party retailers, despite the console already selling out after overnight pre-orders.

The difficulties encountered on April 24, combined with Nintendo's warnings, indicate that obtaining a Switch 2 at or around its launch will be challenging.

According to a FAQ posted on Nintendo's website, the first batch of invitations for the My Nintendo Store in the U.S. will begin on May 8, 2025. Subsequent batches will be sent out "periodically" until the purchasing option is available 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 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.