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 unveils the fortunate winners of the Switch 2 pre-order lottery through the official My Nintendo Store. However, the overwhelming demand led to the website being taken offline for maintenance due to excessive traffic. Additionally, Nintendo issued a crucial warning about phishing emails that falsely claim to be official Switch 2 pre-order lottery results.

On April 2, Nintendo began accepting applications for the Switch 2 pre-order lottery in Japan. Those selected in the lottery would have the opportunity to purchase the Switch 2 from the My Nintendo Store, with delivery scheduled for the console's launch on June 5.

In a message from Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa released yesterday, it was revealed that approximately 2.2 million people in Japan participated in the first Switch 2 presale lottery. This staggering number far surpassed Nintendo's expectations, meaning many hopeful fans will not secure the console on launch day.

As the results of the first Switch 2 presale lottery were announced today, the rush to access Japan's My Nintendo Store was so intense that Nintendo had to take the site offline for maintenance. This situation was exploited by scammers who began circulating fake lottery results.

Japanese-speaking users on X (formerly Twitter) took to the platform to share screenshots of fraudulent emails, highlighting various versions of the scam. The subject lines, such as "You have won the Switch 2 lottery," initially seemed like good news to many Nintendo fans. However, the emails typically included demands to click on a LINE messenger app link or make payments through dubious URLs, urging immediate action to secure the new console. These phishing attempts ranged from obvious fakes with excessive emojis to more sophisticated versions with minor errors, such as misspellings of "Nintendo" in email addresses and non-Japanese URLs.

The official warning from the Japanese Nintendo Support account clarified, “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 with information about release-day delivery, warning those interested in purchasing a Switch 2 from My Nintendo Store that delivery by the June 5 release date could not be guaranteed. As a result, invitation emails might arrive after the Switch 2's launch. However, Nintendo assured customers that the shipping date would be confirmed upon purchase. The company also suggested that fans might have a better chance of obtaining a Switch 2 at launch by pre-ordering from third-party retailers—a recommendation that raises concerns given the console's rapid sell-out following the start of pre-orders.

The challenges faced by fans attempting to pre-order the Switch 2 on April 24, combined with Nintendo's warning, indicate that securing the next-gen console will be difficult around its launch.

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. Additional batches of invitation emails will follow "periodically" until purchasing on My Nintendo Store is opened to everyone. Initial invitation emails will be sent on a first-come, first-served 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.