The inevitable Switch 2 release-day delivery warning from Nintendo to its U.S. fans is finally here, after the company said it would struggle to meet demand in Japan.
An update on release-day delivery was published on Nintendo’s website warning those who’d registered their interest in buying a Switch 2 from My Nintendo Store that it could not guarantee delivery by the June 5 release date.
As a result, invitation emails may arrive after the Switch 2 comes out. However, Nintendo said it will confirm your shipping date upon purchase.
“Thank you to those of you who have already registered your interest in purchasing from My Nintendo Store,” Nintendo’s statement read.
“We’re thrilled by the enthusiasm for Nintendo Switch 2! Due to the very high demand, we will be working diligently to fulfill orders as product becomes available, but delivery by June 5 is not guaranteed. Your invitation email may arrive after the Nintendo Switch 2 launch. We’ll confirm your shipping date upon purchase.”
Nintendo is now saying you may have a better chance of getting a Switch 2 at launch by pre-ordering at a third-party retailer — a concerning suggestion given Switch 2 has already sold out following pre-orders going live overnight.
“If you wish to increase your opportunity of obtaining a Nintendo Switch 2 system at launch, please visit our participating retail partners above,” the statement said, pointing to a GameStop link (Switch 2 is currently sold out at GameStop).
“If you wish to continue waiting for your invitation from My Nintendo Store, no further action is required after registering your interest.”
The struggle fans had to pre-order Switch 2 on April 24 coupled with this warning from Nintendo suggests the next-gen console will be very hard to buy at least in and around launch.
Earlier this week, Nintendo issued a warning to its customers in Japan, saying a “significant” number would miss out on pre-ordering a Switch 2 direct from the company.
In a statement issued to X / Twitter, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said the company had seen 2.2 million people in Japan alone apply for a pre-order of the Switch 2 from the My Nintendo Store. This “extremely large number of applications… 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 5,” Furukawa explained.
According to a FAQ posted to Nintendo’s website, the first batch of invitations will go out starting May 8, 2025 for the My Nintendo Store in the U.S. Additional batches of invitation emails will then be sent “periodically” until purchasing on My Nintendo Store is opened to everyone.
Initial invitation emails will be delivered on a first-come, first-serve basis to “eligible registrants who meet the priority criteria.” Invitees will have 72 hours from the time when the email is sent to complete their purchase.
Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order invitation priority requirements:
- you must have been the one who purchased any Nintendo Switch Online membership
- you must have had any paid Nintendo Switch Online membership for a minimum of 12 months, and
- you must have opted in to share gameplay data and have at least 50 hours total gameplay hours.
Last week, Nintendo announced that Switch 2 pre-orders would begin in the U.S. on April 24, 2025, and that the original price of $449.99 and launch date of June 5 would remain the same. Alongside the base console price remaining the same, Nintendo confirmed the Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle would remain at $499.99 and pricing for both the physical and digital versions of Mario Kart World ($79.99) and Donkey Kong Bananza ($69.99) would not change at launch. But Nintendo raised the price of Switch 2 accessories amid the ongoing tariff turmoil.
Nintendo had originally planned on opening pre-orders for Switch 2 on April 9, but it made the decision to delay them as it needed time to “assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions.”
If you’re looking to pre-order a Nintendo Switch 2, GameCube controller, or other accessories and games, make sure to keep an eye on our Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order guide, which will stay updated with news and info. You can also find out more about how to increase your chances of getting a new Nintendo Switch 2 console on day one.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
