Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders in Japan: Loyalty or Bust
The Nintendo Switch 2 hype train hasn’t just left the station—it’s hit bullet-train speed. With over 2.2 million people signing up for Nintendo’s preorder lottery in Japan, the demand for the upcoming console is already bonkers. And now, some Japanese retailers are adding their own little twist: you can only get a preorder if you’ve already spent a bunch of money with them.
Yep. Loyalty now means “did you drop a paycheck here recently?” And if not, well… good luck out there.
Scalper Prevention or Just Gatekeeping?
To be fair, this isn’t a terrible idea on paper. Retailers are trying to dodge the nightmare of bots and scalpers that made grabbing a PS5 feel like entering The Hunger Games. So, some stores—like Yodobashi Camera—are straight-up restricting Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders to members who’ve reached “premium” status (aka: you’ve spent a lot).
Other stores, like GEO, are limiting access to app users who’ve actually made past purchases. If you just downloaded the app yesterday, hoping for an easy preorder? Sorry, rookie—no dice.
While this might keep resellers at bay, it’s also frustrating for casual fans, younger players, or anyone who hasn’t funneled cash into these retailers over the last year. Congratulations, the gate to the Nintendo Switch 2 is now locked behind a loyalty points system.
Nintendo’s Official Response? Sorry, Not Sorry
Nintendo has acknowledged the demand—and basically said, “yeah, we can’t keep up.” President Shuntaro Furukawa issued a formal apology (very on-brand), confirming that not everyone who applied will get one. If you miss the first round, you’ll be tossed into a second lottery.
But based on how things are going, don’t expect that second round to be any smoother.
Final Thoughts
It’s weird to think that the Nintendo Switch 2 isn’t even out yet and is already seen as a status symbol (devolving society, I swear) in Japan. Retailers are locking down pre-orders behind loyalty walls like they worked at Fort Knox, and Nintendo’s lottery system? Yeah, that was just so overloaded that it just burst at the seams. If this is how it’s starting, there’s a good chance that the global launch will be chaos incarnate!
Moral of the story? Buy your snacks and collectibles now—your local shop might just remember you when it’s preorder time.
