Nintendo admits Switch 2 demand "far exceeds expectations" in Japan, as company president offers stark warning over stock

Nintendo does not have the Switch 2 stock to meet customer demand in Japan, it has admitted, in a stark warning from the company's president.

Writing on social media this morning, Nintendo boss Shuntaro Furukawa revealed an astonishing 2.2 million people had applied to buy a Switch 2 via the My Nintendo Store as part of a lottery process.

Furukawa admitted this was a number that "far exceeds expectations" and "far exceeds the number of Nintendo Switch 2 consoles that can be delivered" at launch.

In Japan, Nintendo has offered a cheaper, region-locked version of Switch 2 that will only play Japanese games and only be compatible with Japanese Nintendo accounts. The thinking here is that this version can be offered to Nintendo's key home market, which is currently impacted by a weak Yen, while also ensuring it cannot be bought up and resold online to those elsewhere.

But creating a Japan-only version of Switch 2 may also present its own problems - such as creating an additional line of stock that has to be manufactured separately, and cannot be topped up by additional units made for elsewhere.

Nintendo is now telling its Japanese fans that "a significant number of customers" will be unable to get Switch 2 at launch. Anyone who has applied to buy the console so far will be automatically entered into a second lottery - but this too will result in an undisclosed number of applications being unsuccessful.

"We deeply apologise for not being able to meet your expectations despite our prior preparations," Furukawa wrote.

Nintendo says it is "further strengthening" its Switch 2 production as a result, and that pre-orders via other Japanese retailers will open tomorrow, should fans want to try their luck there.

"With the cooperation of retailers, we will continue to ship the console and make efforts to get as many Nintendo Switch 2 consoles as possible into your hands," Furukawa added.

"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."

Writing on social media, Dr Serkan Toto, CEO of Japanese game industry consultancy firm Kantan Games, described the amount of interest in Switch 2 as "ridiculous", but also noted Nintendo had "originally promised enough supply for launch - which of course immediately sounded like a fairy tale for anybody with a basic understanding of the game market".

Overseas, Switch 2's launch has already proven bumpy in North America - where Nintendo has had to factor in the current US trade war with China into its launch pricing. In the US, Switch 2 will still arrive on 5th June alongside the rest of the world, though prices for its accessories have now been raised.