Japanese video gaming company Nintendo has warned its customers who made pre-orders directly to the firm that they might not get their orders anytime before the launch of its upcoming Switch 2 due to strong demand.
This comes as gamers wishing to be among the first to purchase the company’s gaming console moved online to try and secure a pre-order, with many left frustrated as demand soared.
Nintendo received 2.2 million applications
Switch 2 was originally scheduled for a June 5 launch, exactly eight years after its predecessor was launched. The company has cited high demand for the gaming consoles and therefore indicated “your invitation email may arrive after the Nintendo Switch 2 launch,” as there are delays in shipment that might affect supply.
According to Engadget, Nintendo opened pre-orders for the Switch 2 earlier in Japan and has received a staggering 2.2 million people applying to pre-order the console. A Bloomberg report suggests that this could be the largest console of all time based on Switch 2 pre-order sales.
Now, the gaming company is making a similar offer for gamers in North America and had initially promised to send out the first batch of pre-order invitations on 8 May.
Nintendo has suggested visiting its launch partners, but this process has been challenging too for the gaming company. According to Engadget, customers are having trouble securing orders with other retailers like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy, where they were reportedly sold out of their stock, at a time when Amazon does not have an order page for the Switch 2.
The company has not made it easy for users wishing to apply for pre-order online. Users are requested to have purchased a Nintendo Switch Online membership, have had any paid Nintendo Switch Online membership for at least 12 months, have opted to share gameplay data, and must also have at least 50 total gameplay hours.
Switch 2 could sell 20 million units
Nintendo originally intended to launch Switch 2 on April 9, but pre-orders began on April 24 because of concerns after the Trump administration announced sweeping tariffs, which are expected to weigh on businesses across sectors, in terms of logistics and subsequently their profitability.
For Nintendo, trade barriers are, according to Reuters, seen as complicating one of the hottest product launches this year, as the success of Switch 2 will test the company’s ability to manage its supply chain. This also comes as the gaming company is looking at securing enough supply for the US market while keeping its $449.99 price tag, a significant jump from its predecessor’s $299 price.
While there have been concerns over the price of the handheld, experts cited by Bloomberg opine that it could easily break records even without concrete figures from North America.
According to Pelham Smithers Associates, Japan accounts for around a third of worldwide demand, and as such, the gaming company can easily accumulate up to 6.6 million pre-orders before the release date on June 5.
The Notebookcheck has indicated that PS5 sold between 2.1 and 2.5 million systems during its first two weeks, while the PS4 had almost similar results, selling 2.1 million during the same period.
With the increasing demand, Switch 2 could easily surpass both PS4 and PS5 if Nintendo manages to meet demand, although its president, Shuntaro Furukawa, suggested the company didn’t have enough supply in Japan.
Bloomberg’s Takashi Mochizuki posted on social media, projecting Switch 2 may sell as many as 20 million consoles in its first year. This would eclipse the original Switch’s 15.1 million units after its 2017 debut and be higher than some previous estimates.
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