Nintendo Switch 2: First-Come, First-Served Sale Sparks Frenzy on My Nintendo Store

Nintendo has announced that its next-generation console, the "Nintendo Switch 2," will be available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis from the My Nintendo Store starting Friday, February 6th, in the afternoon. This change in sales method for a console that has long been difficult to obtain has sparked widespread excitement and anticipation on social media.

Two versions will be sold: the "Nintendo Switch 2 (Japanese/Domestic Use Only)" and the "Nintendo Switch 2 (Multi-Language Support)." The Japanese/Domestic Use Only version is priced at 49,980 yen (tax included), while the Multi-Language Support version is 69,980 yen (tax included).

Specific conditions apply for purchase. Specifically, as of December 21, 2025, at 11:59 PM, the Nintendo Switch linked to your Nintendo Account must have accumulated over 50 hours of playtime. Furthermore, users who have previously purchased the same model through lottery sales or invitation sales conducted on the My Nintendo Store are ineligible, and there is a limit of one unit per person.

This "first-come, first-served" format is notably unusual for the Nintendo Switch series, which has primarily relied on lottery sales. Users have voiced comments such as "Is this the first first-come, first-served sale?" and "Will it finally reach those who want it?" On the other hand, concerns are also being raised about potential server crashes due to concentrated access and the likelihood of intense competition persisting. Posts eagerly anticipating the release date, like "X-day is Friday, February 6th, afternoon" and "All we can do is stay glued to the store," are appearing frequently.

While some retailers like Amazon sporadically conduct lottery sales, many stores including Rakuten Books, Ito-Yokado, and Yodobashi Camera continue to face stock shortages. This first-come, first-served sale on the My Nintendo Store will be a significant opportunity for fans who have not yet acquired a Nintendo Switch 2. Users wishing to purchase are advised to check the detailed conditions on the My Nintendo Store's official website in advance and prepare accordingly.

The context

The article discusses the anticipated sales of the "Nintendo Switch 2," a name often used speculatively for the successor to the highly successful Nintendo Switch console. While Nintendo has not officially announced a console named "Nintendo Switch 2," this article describes a hypothetical or future scenario for its release. For Japanese consumers, obtaining popular new game consoles can often be challenging due to high demand and limited supply. Retailers frequently resort to lottery-based sales (抽選販売) to distribute sought-after items fairly and deter scalpers. The "first-come, first-served" (先着販売) method mentioned in the article is a departure from this norm and is usually seen as a more direct but potentially chaotic way to sell popular products. The My Nintendo Store is Nintendo's official online retail platform in Japan. The specific purchase conditions, such as requiring 50+ hours of playtime on an existing Switch linked to a Nintendo Account, are common measures implemented by Nintendo to prioritize genuine players and prevent bulk purchases by scalpers. The pricing of 49,980 yen for a domestic version and 69,980 yen for a multi-language version aligns with typical premium console pricing in Japan.