Nintendo warns of Switch 2 supply shortage in Japan
Shortages of Nintendo’s upcoming Switch 2 console appear increasingly inevitable following the company’s announcement that it cannot fulfill all of the preorder applications already submitted through its official Japanese storefront.
2.2 Million Preorders Flood My Nintendo Store
In a statement posted on X via Nintendo’s Japanese account, company president Shuntaro Furukawa revealed that the My Nintendo Store has received a staggering 2.2 million preorder applications from Japan alone. Furukawa says that the figure “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 5th.”
Demand Surpasses Original Switch Launch
The unprecedented demand signals a dramatic surge in consumer interest compared to the original Switch, which sold 360,000 units in Japan during its first month. In contrast, day-one demand for the Switch 2 nearly matches the 2.74 million units the company sold worldwide in the first few weeks of the original console’s release in 2017.
Lottery System and Additional Preorder Options
While Furukawa did not specify how many consoles will be available on launch day, he cautioned that “a significant number of customers” will not secure a console through the My Nintendo Store’s lottery system. Those who miss out will be automatically entered into a second lottery. Additionally, Japanese third-party retailers are set to begin accepting preorders on April 24.
Two Switch 2 Versions Offered in Japan
Nintendo will offer two versions of the Switch 2 in Japan: a ¥49,980 (approximately $350) Japanese-only model and a ¥69,980 (roughly $500) multilingual edition, available exclusively through the My Nintendo Store.
Global Preorder Status
Internationally, preorders have been open for several weeks in regions such as Europe, where stock sold out rapidly. In the U.S., preorders open tomorrow at $449.99, following an earlier delay due to tariff-related concerns.
Images: Nintendo
