President of Nintendo, Shuntaro Furukawa, has warned that demand for the company’s upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console has exceeded demand expectations in Japan, which will lead to some consumers being unable to secure the console. In a post via X, Furukawa explained that currently, around 2.2 million in Japan hope to secure the handheld hybrid through My Nintendo Store as part of a lottery process.
He also noted that this number “far exceeds the number of Nintendo Switch 2 consoles that can be delivered from the My Nintendo Store on June 5th.” This means, as he puts it, “a significant number of customers” will be unable to secure a Nintendo Switch 2 when the Lottery results are announced on April 24th, which coincides with the date the platform will be made available for Pre-Order in the US.
Those unable to secure one will not need to reapply for the lottery and will be automatically entered into another lottery, with results being announced at a later date. Nintendo has made clear, though, that they expect the second draw to still not cover the demand, leaving some customers still without the console.
Furukawa stated:
Even including the quantity for the second lottery sale, we cannot fulfill all of the applications we received. We deeply apologize for not being able to meet your expectations despite our prior preparations.
Nintendo has stated that they are currently strengthening its production chain in response to this growing demand. Third-party retailers will also begin taking pre-orders on April 24th, offering another route for those looking to secure a Nintendo Switch 2. The console will continue to be sold on My Nintendo Store post-launch, with Nintendo promising to share more details at some point in the future.
This being said, Nintendo is clearly bracing for some consumer disappointment come the Nintendo Switch 2’s June 5th release date. Furukawa went on to say:
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. We plan to continue producing and shipping a considerable number of Nintendo Switch 2 units in the future. We apologize for the delay in our ability to meet your expectations, and we appreciate your understanding.
This supply chain has been additionally disrupted by Tariffs placed on several countries, including Japan and Vietnam, by the United States. President Trump had placed a 90-day pause on these tariffs, during which rumors have suggested Nintendo had shifted much of its Vietnam-manufactured products to the US, should the tariffs be reinstated in the future.
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