"Switch 2 Chaos: My Nintendo Store Crashes, Scammers Exploit Pre-Order Lottery Frenzy in Japan"

For Nintendo enthusiasts in Japan, April 24, 2025, marks a significant day as Nintendo prepares to announce the winners of its Switch 2 pre-order lottery via the official My Nintendo Store. However, due to overwhelming traffic, the My Nintendo Store website went offline for maintenance, and Nintendo issued a stern warning regarding phishing emails impersonating legitimate pre-order notifications.

On April 2, Nintendo launched the pre-order lottery application process in Japan, offering lottery winners the chance to purchase a Switch 2 directly from My Nintendo Store, scheduled for delivery on the June 5 launch date. In his recent address, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa revealed that approximately 2.2 million people in Japan applied for the initial lottery, exceeding expectations and leaving many hopeful buyers disappointed.

As the results of the first lottery became available today, heavy traffic overwhelmed the My Nintendo Store, prompting Nintendo to temporarily shut down the site. Scammers capitalized on this frenzy by circulating counterfeit lottery outcome emails. Users on X shared screenshots of fraudulent messages, highlighting various iterations of the scam. While the subject lines proclaiming victory often triggered excitement, the emails typically directed recipients to suspicious links or demanded immediate payment through unverified URLs.

Nintendo’s official statement emphasized, “We intend to distribute the lottery outcome emails today, April 24, but none have been sent as of this announcement. Please disregard any emails received prior to this warning, as they did not originate from Nintendo.”

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In the U.S., Nintendo updated its website regarding release-day deliveries, advising those interested in purchasing from My Nintendo Store that guaranteed delivery by June 5 cannot be assured. Consequently, invitation emails may arrive post-launch. Nintendo clarified that shipping dates will be confirmed upon purchase. Additionally, the company suggested third-party retailers as a viable alternative, considering the rapid sell-out of Switch 2 units following the initial pre-orders.

The challenges faced during the April 24 pre-order process, combined with Nintendo’s warning, indicate that acquiring the next-generation console will be extremely difficult near the launch window.

According to a FAQ section on Nintendo’s website, the first round of invitations will begin on May 8, 2025, for the U.S. My Nintendo Store. Subsequent invitations will be sent periodically until all users can purchase directly from the store. Initial invitations will follow a first-come, first-served model among eligible registrants meeting priority criteria. Recipients will have 72 hours from receiving the email to finalize their purchase.

Prioritization Requirements for Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-orders:

• Must have purchased a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
• Must have maintained a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership for at least 12 months.
• Must agree to share gameplay data and have accumulated at least 50 total gameplay hours.