Chaos Erupts at My Nintendo Store in Japan Over Switch 2 Pre-Order Lottery Results, Scammers Pounce

For Nintendo enthusiasts in Japan, April 24, 2025, marks a significant day as Nintendo is set to announce the winners of the Switch 2 pre-order lottery through the My Nintendo Store. However, the excitement was marred by the overwhelming traffic that forced Nintendo to temporarily shut down the My Nintendo Store website for maintenance. Adding to the chaos, Nintendo also 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 in Japan began on April 2, with winners slated to purchase their consoles from the My Nintendo Store, set for delivery on the launch date of June 5. In a message from Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa, it was revealed that approximately 2.2 million people entered the lottery, a figure that far surpassed the company’s expectations. This high demand implies that many hopefuls will be disappointed on launch day.

As the first Switch 2 presale lottery results were released 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 sent out fake lottery results to unsuspecting fans.

Japanese users on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) have been proactive in alerting others, sharing screenshots of fraudulent emails and highlighting various forms of these scams. These phishing emails often feature subject lines like “You have won the Switch 2 lottery,” which could easily excite eager fans. The emails typically prompt users to click on a LINE messenger app link or pay immediately via a suspicious URL, urging quick action to secure the new console. These attempts range from overtly fake, emoji-filled emails to more deceptive ones with minor errors like misspellings of "Nintendo" in email addresses and non-Japanese URLs.

The official warning from the Japanese Nintendo Support account clarified that, as of April 24, no legitimate lottery result emails had been sent out. They cautioned, “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 has updated its website to inform those interested in purchasing a Switch 2 from My Nintendo Store that delivery by the June 5 release date cannot be guaranteed. This means that invitation emails might arrive after the console's launch. However, Nintendo assures that the shipping date will be confirmed upon purchase. They also suggest that pre-ordering from third-party retailers might offer a better chance of securing a Switch 2 at launch, despite the fact that these pre-orders have already sold out.

The challenges faced by fans trying to pre-order the Switch 2 on April 24, combined with Nintendo's warnings, indicate that obtaining the next-generation console at or around launch will be highly competitive.

According to a FAQ posted on Nintendo’s website, the initial batch of invitations for the My Nintendo Store in the U.S. will begin on May 8, 2025. Subsequent batches will be sent out "periodically" until the store is open to all. These initial emails will be sent on a first-come, first-serve basis to "eligible registrants who meet the priority criteria," with invitees given 72 hours from the time of the email to complete their purchase.

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order invitation priority requirements:

• You must have purchased any Nintendo Switch Online membership.
• You must have maintained any paid Nintendo Switch Online membership for at least 12 months.
• You must have opted in to share gameplay data and have accumulated at least 50 hours of total gameplay.