For Nintendo fans in Japan, April 24, 2025, marks an exciting day as Nintendo announces the winners of the Switch 2 pre-order lottery through the My Nintendo Store. However, due to overwhelming traffic, the website was temporarily taken down for maintenance. Amidst this excitement, Nintendo also issued a crucial warning about phishing emails that falsely claim to provide Switch 2 pre-order lottery results.
On April 2, Nintendo opened applications for the Switch 2 pre-order lottery in Japan, with the promise that winners could secure their console for the launch date on June 5. In a recent message, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa revealed that approximately 2.2 million people entered the lottery, a number that significantly surpassed the company's expectations. This high demand means that many hopefuls will miss out on obtaining the 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 overwhelmed the site, leading Nintendo to take it offline for maintenance. Unfortunately, this frenzy also provided an opportunity for scammers to send out fake lottery results.
Users on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, have been vigilant, sharing screenshots of fraudulent emails and warning others about various scam versions. These deceptive emails often feature subject lines like "You have won the Switch 2 lottery," which could easily excite any Nintendo fan. The scams typically urge users to click on suspicious LINE messenger app links or pay immediately through dubious URLs. These phishing attempts range from overtly fake messages filled with emojis to more subtle scams with minor errors, such as misspellings in email addresses and non-Japanese URLs.
The official warning from the Japanese Nintendo Support account clarifies that, "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 has updated its website to inform those interested in purchasing a Switch 2 from My Nintendo Store that they cannot guarantee delivery by the June 5 release date. Consequently, invitation emails might be sent out after the Switch 2 launch. However, Nintendo assures that the shipping date will be confirmed at the time of purchase. The company suggests that pre-ordering from third-party retailers might offer a better chance of securing a console at launch, despite these options selling out quickly after pre-orders opened.
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 around its launch will be difficult.
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. Additional batches of invitation emails will be sent out "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." Those invited 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.
