Nintendo apologizes: the Switch 2 is no longer enough for everyone

Even before the Switch 2 console’s release, Nintendo is facing what any tech manufacturer dreams of – the hype has exceeded expectations. Pre-order requests in Japan alone have passed 2.2 million, and now the company is publicly apologizing for not being able to meet demand in time for launch. Sales are scheduled to start on June 5, but not everyone will get one.

Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa personally addressed fans in an open letter posted to X (formerly Twitter), where he admitted that interest in Switch 2 has been much higher than predicted, and that the company simply can’t keep up with the volume of orders.

2.2 million applications – in Japan alone

Furukawa said more than 2.2 million people have applied for the lottery to get a chance to pre-order through My Nintendo Store. However, Nintendo’s production capacity is not yet capable of producing that many consoles in time for the release date.

So far, Nintendo has not yet been able to produce that many consoles in time for the release date.

“We deeply apologize for not meeting your expectations despite serious preparations,” the company said in a statement.

What’s going to happen to pre-orders

Those who didn’t make it into the first wave of pre-orders will automatically be included in the second. But even there, the chance of getting the device will remain limited, as the company’s CEO admitted. That means only a handful of people will be able to get a Switch 2 on launch day.

Those less fortunate will have to wait. Nintendo has promised to improve production processes, as well as begin distributing lottery and regular pre-orders through retailers and online stores nationwide. After release, the console will continue to be sold through My Nintendo Store.

Nintendo learns from its mistakes

Despite the situation, Nintendo has learned an important lesson. The openness with which the company acknowledged the problem deserves respect: instead of streamlined phrases in a press release, it was an honest admission of a shortage. In a high-demand environment, that’s probably the best way to maintain the trust of the audience.

While the Switch 2 shortage is a problem that’s largely the company’s own fault, it’s clearly trying to minimize the impact. That means that availability could improve in the coming months.