Yes—Nintendo said Japan’s Switch 2 lottery drew far more applications than expected in April 2025. The widely cited 2.2 million figure was lottery applications, not confirmed purchases or a global preorder count. U.S. retailer listings also ran out of availability quickly, while Nintendo later reported record launch sales and supply constraints in many countries. Those events show demand was exceptionally strong, but they do not establish a precise number of preorders Nintendo failed to meet.
How many people preordered the Switch 2 in Japan?
Contemporaneous reporting put the number of applications for Nintendo’s Japan My Nintendo Store lottery at 2.2 million during the two weeks after it opened on April 4, 2025. Nintendo’s May financial-results briefing confirmed that the response was far above expectations. Because the store used a lottery, the figure counts applications—not paid orders, unique buyers, or all Japanese demand across retailers. Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa said: “Far more applications were received than anticipated, so we announced in advance that a considerable portion of applicants would not be selected in the announcement on April 24.” (Nintendo’s May 2025 financial-results Q&A)
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Nintendo Switch 2 System | $499.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Nintendo Switch 2 System with Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 Bundle | $568.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle with Bonus HDMI Cable & Screen Cleaning Cloth | $619.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Why did Nintendo run out of Switch 2 preorders?
The wording needs care: the evidence documents a lottery in Japan and fast-moving availability at U.S. retailers, not a single global preorder pool that Nintendo exhausted. The two markets used different sales mechanisms, and neither measure gives a verified total of unmet orders.
Japan: a lottery with more applicants than expected
My Nintendo Store applicants entered a drawing rather than placing guaranteed paid preorders. Nintendo warned that many would not be selected in the initial drawing. The application count therefore shows the scale of interest in that channel, not the number of consoles Nintendo had promised to deliver.
#1 Best Overall
- The next evolution of Nintendo Switch
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Dock that supports 4K when connected to a compatible TV*
- GameChat** lets you voice chat, share your game screen, and connect via video chat as you play
United States: retailer listings became unavailable quickly
The Associated Press reported that U.S. preorders opened shortly after midnight Eastern Time on April 24, 2025. Some retailer listings quickly showed out of stock or unavailable. Nintendo also cautioned that My Nintendo Store delivery by launch day was not guaranteed. The AP report said total retailer preorder capacity was unclear, so individual stockouts cannot be used to calculate how many customers missed out. (Associated Press coverage of U.S. preorders)
Did Nintendo underestimate Switch 2 demand?
For the initial Japan lottery response, Nintendo’s own description supports saying that demand exceeded expectations. That is different from proving that its overall production plan or fiscal-year sales forecast was too low. In the May 2025 briefing, Nintendo said its forecast of 15 million Switch 2 hardware units for the fiscal year ending March 2026 was not determined by a production-capacity limit. The forecast and the lottery response describe different things: expected fiscal-year sales and applications to one preorder channel, respectively. (Nintendo’s May 2025 financial-results Q&A)
Rank #2
- The next evolution of the Nintendo Switch system
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Supports up to 4K resolution** when using a compatible game and TV connected via the included Nintendo Switch 2 dock
- Nintendo Switch 2 plays compatible physical and digital Nintendo Switch games.***
What launch sales showed—and what they cannot prove
Nintendo launched Switch 2 globally on June 5, 2025. It reported more than 3.5 million consumer units sold in the first four days, describing that as the highest global first-four-day sales level for one of its dedicated video game platforms. In August 2025, Nintendo reported more than 6 million consumer units sold in the first seven weeks and said demand exceeded supply in many countries. It also said it was strengthening production in response to demand that had surpassed expectations. (Nintendo’s launch sales announcement; Nintendo’s August 2025 investor presentation)
These are consumer sell-through figures: sales to individual customers through retailers and Nintendo’s direct-sales sites. They are not the same as sell-in, which counts units Nintendo sold to business partners. Strong sell-through and a supply shortfall in many countries confirm a highly successful, constrained launch; they do not reveal a quantified global preorder gap or show by how many units any particular forecast missed.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #3
- 【Ultimate Nintendo Switch 2 Bundle – Ready to Play】Includes the complete Nintendo Switch 2 console and a full-game download of Mario Kart World, so you can start racing right out of the box. Perfect for gamers of all ages and playstyles.
- 【Next-Gen Hybrid Gaming with Stunning Visuals】Experience a vivid 7.9‑inch 1080p LCD touchscreen with HDR support, and enjoy 4K TV output at up to 60 fps when docked — for immersive gameplay at home or on the go.
- 【Versatile 3 Play Modes】Seamlessly switch between Handheld, Tabletop, and TV modes — all featuring intuitive controls and smooth performance, wherever you choose to play.
- 【Enhanced Social Gaming with GameChat & Multiplayer】Connect with friends locally, enjoy online multiplayer with up to 24 players, and use voice chat via GameChat (internet connection and Nintendo Switch Online membership required after trial period).
- 【Powerful Storage & Joy‑Con 2 Controllers】Includes 256 GB internal storage (expandable with microSD), magnetic Joy‑Con 2 controllers, docking station, HDMI cable, AC adapter, grip, and straps — everything you need for the ultimate gaming setup.
What the 2025 figures mean now
The shortage and supply statements above describe launch preparations and conditions reported in 2025. They are not a current inventory update. The cited figures establish unusually strong early demand and Nintendo’s response at that time, but do not establish current Switch 2 stock levels.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
