Nintendo is offering the Japanese a cheaper, region-locked version of the console.
It looks like Nintendo Japan might have a small crisis on its hands, as the company’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa admitted on social media that it does not have enough Nintendo Switch 2 stock to meet consumer demand in Japan.
The warning was posted on Nintendo Japan’s official X (formerly Twitter) account. The company revealed that, following its 2 April announcement about the Nintendo Switch 2, it had opened applications for a lottery-based sale via the My Nintendo Store.
According to Furukawa, the response was massive–around 2.2 million people in Japan alone applied. "However, this number 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."
With that in mind, he warned that "a significant number of customers will not be selected" when the lottery results are announced on 24 April. To ease frustrations, those who aren’t selected will automatically be entered into a second lottery, eliminating the need to reapply. Even with this second draw, Nintendo admitted it still won’t be able to meet the sheer volume of demand.
Furukawa, on behalf of the Nintendo, apologised for the situation, stating, "We deeply apologise for not being able to meet your expectations despite our prior preparations." It added that it is now "working on further strengthening our production system."
Retailers and online stores across Japan will also begin accepting pre-orders or launching their own lottery systems from 24 April, with Nintendo encouraging customers to check individual retailer pages for details.
The company also confirmed that Switch 2 consoles will continue to be sold through the My Nintendo Store after launch day, with additional information to follow.
Nintendo closed by promising to continue production and distribution on a large scale going forward: "We plan to continue producing and shipping a considerable number of Nintendo Switch 2 units in the future. We apologise for the delay in our ability to meet your expectations, and we appreciate your understanding."
Region-locked model adds to supply strain
To cater specifically to its domestic audience, Nintendo Japan is offering a cheaper, region-locked version of the console. This version only plays Japanese games and requires a Japanese Nintendo account.
That said, this move brings added pressure to the company’s manufacturing lines. Because these Japan-only models are entirely separate from the global version, they can’t be supported by stock meant for international markets. Nintendo must therefore maintain a separate production process just to fulfil local demand.
Global launch still on schedule
While Japan faces a supply shortfall, the Nintendo Switch 2 is still slated for worldwide release on 5 June, despite the US having to face some delay due to the US-China tarriff wars. Fans elsewhere should note, though, that prices for accessories have gone up in international regions.
