My Nintendo Store Chaos: Switch 2 Pre-Order Lottery Overwhelms Site, Scammers Emerge

For Nintendo enthusiasts in Japan, April 24, 2025, marks a significant date as Nintendo is set to announce the fortunate winners of the Switch 2 pre-order lottery through the My Nintendo Store. However, the overwhelming demand led to the My Nintendo Store website undergoing maintenance due to excessive traffic. Additionally, Nintendo issued a crucial warning regarding phishing emails that deceitfully claim to be official Switch 2 pre-order lottery results.

On April 2, Nintendo opened applications for a Switch 2 pre-order lottery in Japan, with winners granted the opportunity to secure the console upon its launch on June 5. According to a message from Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa, approximately 2.2 million individuals entered the initial Switch 2 presale lottery, a number that vastly surpassed the company's expectations. Consequently, many hopefuls will be disappointed in their quest to obtain the console on launch day.

As the results of the first Switch 2 presale lottery were released today, the surge of eager participants caused the My Nintendo Store to go offline for maintenance. This frenzy also attracted scammers who capitalized on the excitement by distributing fraudulent lottery results.

Japanese-speaking users on social media platforms like X have been vigilant, sharing screenshots of these deceptive emails and highlighting various iterations of the scam. These phishing emails, which seemingly celebrate the recipient's lottery win, often include urgent requests to click on a LINE messenger app link or to pay immediately through dubious URLs. The scams vary from easily recognizable fakes, laden with emojis, to more sophisticated versions with minor errors, such as misspellings of "Nintendo" in email addresses and non-Japanese URLs.

An official warning from the Japanese Nintendo Support account clarifies that, despite planning to send out lottery result emails on April 24, no such emails have been dispatched yet. The account urges fans to remain cautious, as any emails received prior to the official dispatch are not from Nintendo.

Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery

View 91 ImagesIn the U.S., Nintendo updated its website to inform those interested in purchasing a Switch 2 through the My Nintendo Store that delivery on the release date of June 5 cannot be guaranteed. As a result, invitation emails might arrive after the console's launch. However, Nintendo assures customers that they will confirm the shipping date upon purchase. The company suggests that pre-ordering from third-party retailers might offer a better chance of securing a Switch 2 at launch, despite these options also selling out quickly.

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-generation console around its launch date will be difficult.

According to an 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. Subsequent batches will be sent out periodically until purchasing is open to all. Initial invitations will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible registrants who meet specific priority criteria. Invitees will have 72 hours from the time of the email to complete their purchase.

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order invitation priority requirements:

• You must have purchased a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
• You must have maintained a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership for at least 12 months.
• You must have opted in to share gameplay data and accumulated at least 50 hours of total gameplay.