Nintendo Warns of Switch 2 Pre-Order Shortages in Japan as Demand Surges Past 2.2 Million

Nintendo is facing overwhelming demand for the Switch 2, prompting a warning to Japanese customers that many will miss out on the initial wave of pre-orders through the My Nintendo Store.

In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa revealed that approximately 2.2 million people in Japan had applied for pre-orders through the My Nintendo Store. This massive response caught the company off guard, as the number "far exceeds our expectations, and far exceeds the number of Nintendo Switch 2 consoles that can be delivered from the My Nintendo Store on June 5," according to Furukawa.

The company has announced that when lottery winners are revealed on April 24, a "significant" number of customers will unfortunately not be selected. Those who miss out on the first round will automatically be entered into a second lottery sale, though Nintendo admits that even with this second chance, they still cannot fulfill all applications received.

"We deeply apologize for not being able to meet your expectations despite our prior preparations," Furukawa stated in his message to customers.

To address the shortage, Nintendo is working to strengthen its production system. Plus, retailers and online stores across Japan will begin accepting additional pre-orders or lottery entries starting April 24, in an effort to ease the strain on Nintendo's own sales platform. Nintendo confirmed it will continue selling the console on the My Nintendo Store even after the June release.

"With the cooperation of retailers, we will continue to ship the console and make efforts to get as many Nintendo Switch 2 consoles as possible into your hands," Furukawa added, promising that Nintendo plans "to continue producing and shipping a considerable number of Nintendo Switch 2 units in the future."

Will the West Face Similar Issues?

While Furukawa's statement specifically addresses the Japanese market, it raises questions about potential supply issues in other regions. In the United States, Nintendo has outlined a different approach to pre-orders, with the first batch of invitation emails scheduled to go out starting May 8, 2025, for the My Nintendo Store. Additional invitation batches will be sent "periodically" until purchasing is opened to everyone.

Nintendo has established priority criteria for these U.S. invitations. To qualify for priority, customers must have personally purchased a Nintendo Switch Online membership, maintained a paid membership for at least 12 months, opted in to share gameplay data, and accumulated at least 50 hours of total gameplay.

Last week, Nintendo confirmed that despite earlier delays due to "potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions," the Switch 2 will maintain its originally announced price of $449.99 with a launch date of June 5. The Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle will remain at $499.99, though Nintendo has increased prices for some accessories.

For those looking to pre-order a Nintendo Switch 2 or related products, Nintendo recommends keeping an eye on their pre-order hub for updated information.