Nintendo announced that it received an overwhelming number of pre-order requests for its upcoming Switch 2 console in Japan. The demand was so high that the company had to implement a lottery system to handle it.

Nintendo explained that priority was given to players who had been active on the original Switch or had online subscriptions, in an attempt to distribute the new consoles fairly. Company president Shuntaro Furukawa revealed on platform X that around 2.2 million applications were submitted for the lottery — in Japan alone! Far beyond Nintendo’s initial expectations.

Nintendo also issued an apology to fans who may not be selected in the first lottery wave, assuring them that production will ramp up to meet demand over time.

The Switch 2 will retail globally for around $450 and is positioned as the official successor to the hugely successful original Switch, which stayed strong for eight years.

Interestingly, the Japanese version of the Switch 2 will be available at a lower price point — about $350 (49,980 yen) — but will only support the Japanese language, limiting its appeal outside of Japan.

This dual-edge strategy boosted local demand significantly, especially with rising global hardware prices and the new import tariffs introduced under President Donald Trump.

As for the U.S. market, Nintendo will start accepting pre-orders next Thursday, after initially delaying to assess the impact of the tariffs.

The most amusing part? Even Masahiro Sakurai, director of the famous Smash Bros series and current developer of Kirby Rider for Switch 2, had to enter the lottery to secure a unit! He even celebrated his win through his official social media account.

It's becoming clear that Switch 2 isn’t just another console launch—it's a bold new chapter for Nintendo's future!