Nintendo Switch 2 Draws Record 2.2 Million Lottery Applications in Japan, Furukawa Addresses Supply Shortages

Nintendo has once again demonstrated its enduring appeal in the gaming world, as demand for its upcoming hardware—Nintendo Switch 2—has reached unprecedented heights in Japan.

The My Nintendo Store lottery, designed to allocate the first batch of Nintendo Switch 2 consoles to eager customers, has seen over 2.2 million applicants, according to a recent statement by Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa.

This surge in interest follows Nintendo’s official reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 details on April 2, 2024. The Nintendo Switch 2, the highly anticipated successor to the best-selling Nintendo Switch, is set to launch on June 5, 2024.

Following the announcement, the company opened a lottery for Japanese consumers via the My Nintendo Store, allowing interested fans to vie for a chance to purchase the new console.

In a post on social platform X (formerly Twitter), President Furukawa conveyed that the response was "significantly larger" than Nintendo had forecast, with applicant numbers surpassing internal projections by a wide margin. "On April 2, we shared information about the Nintendo Switch 2 and started the lottery through the My Nintendo Store, which swiftly attracted about 2.2 million applications from customers in Japan alone," Furukawa stated.

"This number greatly exceeds what we had prepared for, which means that many customers will not be able to secure a console when the winners are announced on April 24.

It is a disappointing situation for those who miss out." Nintendo has outlined several steps to ensure a smoother experience for those who do not win in the initial lottery.

All unsuccessful applicants will be automatically entered into a subsequent lottery round, reducing the need for repeated manual entries.

Despite these measures, Furukawa stressed that "even with the inventory from the second lottery, we will not be able to accommodate all of the demand." To address the overwhelming enthusiasm, Nintendo is increasing its production capacity for the Nintendo Switch 2.

The president acknowledged the challenge, offering an apology for the inconvenience: "We sincerely apologize for not meeting everyone’s expectations, despite our preparations.

We are strengthening our production systems and working with retailers to ensure more consoles are available across game shops and online stores nationwide from April 24." Retailers across Japan, both online and in physical locations, will begin accepting reservations or holding additional lottery sales for the hardware starting April 24, 2024. Furukawa reassured fans that the My Nintendo Store would continue to offer the Nintendo Switch 2 after launch, with ongoing shipments planned.

Details regarding further sales will be announced in the near future.

Nintendo is committed to "producing and shipping a considerable number" of Nintendo Switch 2 consoles, but the company admits it may take additional time to fully satisfy customer demand. The immense interest in the Nintendo Switch 2 highlights the ongoing strength of the Nintendo brand and signals a new chapter for the popular hybrid platform.

As the June launch approaches, consumers can expect continued updates from Nintendo and its retail partners regarding the availability and distribution of the highly sought-after console.

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