Nintendo’s latest console launch has been nothing short of meteoric, but its early success has come with an unexpected snag: the Switch 2 has sold out faster than anyone anticipated. Despite reassurances that the global semiconductor crunch had eased, Nintendo found itself unable to keep up with the onslaught of orders, leading to empty shelves across key markets and frustrated gamers unable to secure the next-generation handheld-dock hybrid.
During its 85th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, president Shuntaro Furukawa addressed this shortage head-on. He began by acknowledging the company’s miscalculation, offering a sincere apology to those still waiting for pre-orders to arrive. Furukawa admitted that even some shareholders had yet to get their hands on the new console, a candid moment that underscored how demand had spiraled well beyond initial forecasts.
Central to the company’s response has been a lottery system launched through the My Nintendo Store in April. Furukawa revealed that this scheme drew an astonishing 2.2 million applicants, a figure he personally announced on X alongside his apology. Although four lottery rounds have already taken place, many hopeful customers remain unselected, prompting Nintendo to unveil a fifth draw scheduled for July.
Beyond raffle-based sales, Nintendo is steadily bolstering production and distribution channels. More retailers in Japan and around the world are slated to receive fresh shipments in the coming weeks, and the company has vowed to refine its manufacturing processes to “deliver as many units as possible.” In discussing the lottery feedback, Furukawa noted steps to make future hardware rollouts smoother and to foster stronger, ongoing relationships with Nintendo Account holders in the long term. According to NStyles, from the social media X, the words of the presidents were something like:
"Currently, in many countries, the demand for Switch 2 exceeds the supply, and we are unable to meet it. We understand that some shareholders have also been unable to obtain it. We started accepting lottery sales at My Nintendo Store in April. The response far exceeded our expectations, and I announced in my name on X that there were 2.2 million applicants, along with an apology. Since then, we have conducted four lottery sales, but some people were not selected. We have announced that the fifth lottery will take place starting in July. Many general retailers have also conducted lottery sales. The number of stores offering in-store sales is gradually increasing. As a company, we are working to improve our production system to deliver as many units as possible. We apologise for the inconvenience caused by this initial demand, which greatly exceeded our expectations".
Even as stock issues persist, the Switch 2’s debut has shattered expectations. Within its first week on sale, the console moved some 3.5 million units worldwide, with estimates hinting at a total north of 4 million and over 1.2 million sold in Japan alone. Such figures confirm that, for all its logistical challenges, Nintendo’s new flagship remains a runaway hit, underscoring the urgency of bridging the gap between supply and fan demand.
As production accelerates and lottery dates draw near, Nintendo aims to turn the tide on this rocky start. What began as an apology may yet become a testament to the company’s ability to adapt under pressure—and to ensure the Switch 2 lives up to its promise of gaming on the go for every eager player.
