"Switch 2 Chaos: My Nintendo Store Crashes Amid Pre-Order Lottery Frenzy, Scammers Emerge"

April 24, 2025, marks a significant date for Nintendo enthusiasts in Japan, as the company is set to unveil the fortunate winners of the Switch 2 pre-order lottery through the My Nintendo Store. However, the overwhelming demand caused the website to undergo maintenance, and Nintendo issued a crucial warning regarding phishing emails that falsely claim to be official Switch 2 pre-order lottery results.

The application period for the Switch 2 pre-order lottery in Japan began on April 2. Those selected in the lottery were granted the opportunity to purchase the console from My Nintendo Store, with delivery scheduled for the launch date on June 5.

In a message released yesterday, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa disclosed that approximately 2.2 million individuals in Japan participated in the initial Switch 2 presale lottery. This number significantly surpassed Nintendo's expectations, indicating that many hopefuls would not secure the console on launch day.

As the first Switch 2 presale lottery results were announced today, a surge of traffic overwhelmed Japan's My Nintendo Store, prompting the site to go offline for maintenance. Concurrently, scammers capitalized on the excitement by distributing fraudulent lottery results.

On social media platform X, Japanese-speaking users cautioned others by sharing screenshots of deceptive emails and highlighting various versions of the scam. These emails typically feature a subject line proclaiming "You have won the Switch 2 lottery," which would understandably excite many fans. The emails often request users to click on a LINE messenger app link or make a payment via a dubious URL, urging immediate action to secure the new console. The phishing attempts vary from easily identifiable fakes filled with emojis to more sophisticated versions with minor errors, such as misspellings in the email addresses and non-Japanese URLs.

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 who expressed interest in purchasing a Switch 2 from My Nintendo Store that delivery on the June 5 release date could not be guaranteed. Consequently, invitation emails might arrive after the console's launch. However, Nintendo assured that the shipping date would be confirmed upon purchase. The company suggested that pre-ordering from a third-party retailer might increase the chances of obtaining a Switch 2 at launch, despite the console already being sold out after pre-orders opened overnight.

The challenges faced by fans in pre-ordering the Switch 2 on April 24, combined with Nintendo's warning, indicate that securing the next-generation console around its launch will be challenging.

According to an FAQ on Nintendo's website, the initial batch of invitation emails for the My Nintendo Store in the U.S. will begin on May 8, 2025. Further batches will be sent periodically until purchasing is opened to all. The initial emails will be sent on a first-come, first-serve basis to eligible registrants who meet specific priority criteria. Recipients 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 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.