For Nintendo enthusiasts in Japan, April 24, 2025, marks a significant date as the company unveils the fortunate winners of the Switch 2 pre-order lottery through the My Nintendo Store. However, the overwhelming traffic led to the temporary shutdown of the My Nintendo Store website for maintenance. Amidst this excitement, 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 began on April 2 in Japan, allowing winners to secure their console for delivery on the launch date, June 5. In a statement from Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa, it was revealed that approximately 2.2 million individuals entered the first Switch 2 pre-sale lottery, a number that significantly exceeded Nintendo's expectations. This high demand implies that many hopeful fans will miss out on getting the console at launch.
As the results of the first Switch 2 pre-sale lottery were set to be announced today, the rush to access the My Nintendo Store in Japan caused the site to be taken offline for maintenance. This frenzy also attracted scammers who began circulating fake lottery results. Japanese-speaking users on X have been proactive, sharing screenshots of these fraudulent emails and highlighting different versions of the scam. These deceptive emails, with subject lines claiming "You have won the Switch 2 lottery," initially appear legitimate but often urge recipients to click on suspicious LINE messenger app links or make immediate payments via questionable URLs. The sophistication of these phishing attempts varies, from blatant fakes filled with emojis to subtler ones with minor errors like misspellings in the email addresses.
The official warning from the Japanese Nintendo Support account clarified 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 updated its website to inform those interested in purchasing a Switch 2 from the My Nintendo Store that delivery by the June 5 release date could not be guaranteed. This means that invitation emails might arrive after the console's launch. However, Nintendo assured that the shipping date would be confirmed upon purchase. They also suggested that pre-ordering from third-party retailers might offer a better chance of securing 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 obtaining the next-gen console will be difficult around its launch date.
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 out starting May 8, 2025. Subsequent batches will be sent "periodically" until purchasing is opened to everyone. The 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.
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