logo
Switch 2 demand 'far exceeds' expectations as Nintendo apologises to players

Switch 2 demand 'far exceeds' expectations as Nintendo apologises to players

Metro23-04-2025
Demand for the Switch 2 has surpassed Nintendo's expectations in Japan, as it issues a statement about pre-orders.
Nintendo may have fumbled certain details around the Switch 2's reveal, with some very poor communication around pricing, but that has had seemingly no effect on pre-orders.
Many retailers across the UK and Europe have already sold out, after pre-orders went live earlier this month – ahead of the console's launch on June 5. Pre-orders across the US and Canada, meanwhile, are set to go live tomorrow, after they were delayed by the tariff situation.
Meanwhile, in Japan, interest in the console has reached such an unprecedented level that Nintendo has had to release a statement to apologise for failing to meet demand.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa warned that many people who applied for the My Nintendo Store lottery will miss out on a chance to pre-order a console on April 24, as they received 2.2 million applications in Japan alone.
'Hello, this is Furukawa,' the statement begins. 'We have been procuring many materials and proceeding with production in advance so that we can deliver the Nintendo Switch 2 to you. On April 2, we announced details about the Nintendo Switch 2 and started accepting applications for the lottery sale on the My Nintendo Store.
'As a result, we received an extremely large number of applications, approximately 2.2 million in Japan alone. However, this number far exceeds our expectations, and far exceeds the number of Nintendo Switch 2 consoles that can be delivered from the My Nintendo Store on June 5. Therefore, unfortunately, we expect that a significant number of customers will not be selected when the winners are announced tomorrow, April 24.'
古川です。みなさまのお手元に「Nintendo Switch 2」をお届けすべく、事前に多くの部材を調達し、生産を進めてきました。4月2日には「Nintendo Switch… — 任天堂株式会社 (@Nintendo) April 23, 2025
Furukawa states those who are not selected in tomorrow's lottery will be automatically re-entered into a second draw, but even after both lotteries, Nintendo 'cannot fulfill all of the applications we received'.
He added: 'We deeply apologise for failing to meet your expectations despite our preparations.'
Nintendo states it is 'working on further strengthening our production system' to meet demand, and encouraged people to try and a secure a console through other retailers.
'Furthermore, we are planning to produce and ship a substantial number of Nintendo Switch 2 units moving forward,' Furukawa added. 'We sincerely apologise for the time it will take to fully meet your expectations and kindly ask for your understanding.'
The high demand for the Switch 2 in Japan might be unique because Nintendo has taken special measures to maintain its dominance in the region. More Trending
Along with the standard Switch 2 console, priced at 69,980 yen (£370), Nintendo is offering a cheaper region-locked edition which will only have Japanese language settings, priced at 49,980 yen (£264).
Many of Nintendo's stranger decisions make more sense when you realise that Japan is always their number one priority, with the region-locked Switch 2 designed to combat foreign resellers looking to capitalise on a favourable exchange rate with the weak yen.
Even with these caveats though, 2.2 million applications is a wild number. For context, the original Switch sold around 330,000 units in its first week in Japan. At the moment, the PlayStation 2 still holds the record for the biggest debut, with almost one million units sold in its first weekend, according to reports.
Based on these numbers, the Switch 2 could easily eclipse both if there are enough units to meet demand – but we'll have to see how it plays out on June 5.
Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter.
To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.
For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.
MORE: Ghost Of Yōtei release date announced and it's a big risk for Sony
MORE: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 review – a classic JRPG made in France
MORE: Oblivion remaster mod support is only a matter of time as fans get to work
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

This display of traditional erotic art is one of Tokyo's most stimulating summer exhibitions
This display of traditional erotic art is one of Tokyo's most stimulating summer exhibitions

Time Out

time3 hours ago

  • Time Out

This display of traditional erotic art is one of Tokyo's most stimulating summer exhibitions

Traditional Japanese erotic art – shunga – flourished during the Edo period (1603–1867), along with the rise of ukiyo-e woodblock printing. Some of the greatest artists of the time, including Kitagawa Utamaro and Katsushika Hokusai, employed ukiyo-e to depict Edo's hedonistic 'floating world' of geisha, kabuki, sumo – and sex. Shunga was in great demand and widely available, despite an official ban, and developed into a highly sophisticated genre in which artists incorporated references to waka poetry and the Chinese classics while tiptoeing around taboos and government censorship. But once Japan opened itself up to the Western world after centuries of isolation, Shunga was deemed 'obscene' and purged from the culture – for nearly 150 years, it turned out. The first major contemporary display of Shunga wasn't held in Tokyo until 2013, but that landmark show cleared the way for similar exhibitions. And now, perhaps the most rousing (sorry) Shunga show to date has opened right here in the capital. On display until September 30, the Kabukicho Shunga Exhibition features around 150 pieces by the likes of Hokusai, Utamaro and Hishikawa Moronobu. Curated from the collection of Mitsuru Uragami, one of Japan's foremost Shunga connoisseurs, the exhibition takes place across two venues: the Shinjuku Kabukicho Noh Stage and a disused 'host club' nearby. The hallowed atmosphere of the Noh stage makes a curious setting for the works, which though undoubtedly erotic also contain a strong element of humour. In fact, Shunga were sometimes referred to as warai-e, or 'laughing pictures'. Making your way through the exhibition, you're bound to notice another unique Shunga element. Both partners are usually fully (well, almost fully) clothed. Unlike in the West, where bare flesh was seen as simultaneously tantalising and taboo, the men and women of Edo-era Japan saw each other in the nude regularly at mixed baths and the like. If anything, it was more appealing to see men and women in Shunga clothed, as it helped to identify the characters' walk of life – and to emphasise the parts that were exposed. In the host-club section of the show, floor-level neon lights lead visitors from one intricate and dainty artwork to the next. The understated decor and layout successfully evokes an era where attitudes about sex were freer and erotica was widely accepted as a prominent art form. A corner of the host club has been converted into a gift shop, where you can pick up Shunga-tastic merch like totes, socks, cushions, cookies and collectible cards, all at reasonable prices. All in all, there's a distinct Kabukicho flair to the Shunga Exhibition, as you'd expect from a show organised by the Smappa!Group. Running an array of bars, clubs and other businesses in the neighbourhood, Smappa is the brainchild of Maki Tezuka, a former top host who's taken it upon himself to combine his core business of after-dark entertainment with cultural initiatives. 'Kabukicho still has a shady reputation, and Shunga is treated as porn,' Tezuka says. 'But both with the neighbourhood and the art form, just scratching the surface reveals a different picture: humanity, humour, soul. I hope this exhibition will inspire people to discover both Kabukicho and Shunga with new eyes.' So keep an open mind, leave your prejudices at home, and make your way to Kabukicho by September 30. Provided you're over 18, that is. Tokyo is getting a Pokémon theme park in spring 2026

Osaka Expo to host two sumo events with matches and exhibitions in August
Osaka Expo to host two sumo events with matches and exhibitions in August

Time Out

time6 hours ago

  • Time Out

Osaka Expo to host two sumo events with matches and exhibitions in August

Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan is the place to explore the world as well as the latest advancements in science and technology. It's also a fantastic opportunity to experience Japanese culture, as the Expo hosts regular Japan-specific events ranging from a monthly fireworks showcase to an upcoming sumo special. The national sport of Japan, sumo is more than just a battle of physical strength; it's also a competition of mind, technique and discipline. Moreover, the sport is filled with rites and rituals that are deeply symbolic. And for two special days in early August, you'll get to experience all that at the Expo. The Expo Grand Sumo Tournament Sunday August 3, 9am-3pm, at Expo Exhibition Center Wasse The official Grand Sumo Tournament is making an exclusive stop at the Expo to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Japan Sumo Association. This majestic spectacle will bring together 200 sumo wrestlers from the association, including the highest ranked Yokozuna athletes. For this one-day special, you get to witness not only authentic sumo matches but also events not typically seen at a regular tournament. There will be sumo chants, taiko drum performances, public sumo practices with children, sumo technique demonstrations as well as the sacred ring-entering ceremony. The highlight, however, will be the sumo matches: the third division (Makushita) and below grapples at noon, and the top division (Makunouchi) at 2pm. Note that you'll need more than an Expo admission ticket to attend the Expo Grand Sumo Tournament. Numbered tickets will be handed out on the day at 9am from a special reception counter near the Expo Exhibition Center Wasse entrance. There are three slots – 9.15am-11.30am, 12noon-1.15pm, 1.45pm-3pm – each capped at 720 spectators. For more information, check the event website. Sumo Expo 2025 Monday August 4, 9am-7.30pm, at Expo Exhibition Center Wasse While Sunday revolves around the tournament, the Sumo Expo 2025 on Monday is all about celebrating sumo culture. This time, you can expect to see not just local but also overseas wrestlers. Aside from international and women's sumo matches, you'll be able to explore exhibitions and partake in experiences hosted by the many local sumo associations across Japan. Moreover, if you're curious about how sumo wrestlers build up their enormous frame, check out the sumo food area for a mouthwatering look at chanko stew, sumo wrestler bento and more body-building dishes. Of course, make sure you pop by the sumo experience area to get a hands-on lesson on how to be a wrestler, from learning the special rites on how to enter the ring respectfully to fighting an opponent. For this event, there's no need for reservations or numbered tickets (except your regular Expo admission). However, entry may be limited for crowd control purposes. For more information, check the event website.

This Chicago bar was just named the #1 bar in the world
This Chicago bar was just named the #1 bar in the world

Time Out

time8 hours ago

  • Time Out

This Chicago bar was just named the #1 bar in the world

Chicago has a lot to celebrate this month. Not only did we make Time Out's list of the best cities for nightlife in the country, but Kumiko just got named the best bar in the world at the 19th annual Spirited Awards in New Orleans. Of course, this comes as no surprise to anyone who has ever sipped a cocktail there. Kumiko is one of Chicago's most beloved (and best) dining experiences, seamlessly blending the precision of Japanese cocktail culture with Midwestern hospitality. Nestled in the West Loop, the intimate, minimalist bar is led by the incomparable Julia Momosé, who opened Kumiko in 2018 alongside local restaurateurs Cara and Noah Sandoval. Kumiko offers an omakase-style tasting menu for both cocktails and food, and each course arrives with intention, storytelling and flavors that linger. It has been recognized as special from the start, earning a Michelin star in 2019 for original chef Mariya Russell, making her the first Black woman to be awarded a Michelin star. In addition to World's Best Bar, Kumiko also won Best Restaurant Bar. Also honored at the Spirited Awards were Sip and Guzzle in New York City (Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar), Trick Dog in San Francisco (Best U.S. Cocktail Bar) and Phoenix's Little Rituals at the Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott (Best U.S. Hotel Bar). Side Hustle at The NoMad Hotel London earned Best International Hotel Bar, and Panda & Sons, in Edinburgh, Scotland, took World's Best Cocktail Menu. In Time Out Chicago's review of Kumiko, critic Maggie Hennessy wrote it 'raises the bar on fine dining and delivers a superb lineup of sake- and shochu-centric sips and delicate bites imbued with Japanese flavors.' On top of dominating the world with its cocktails, Kumiko also just landed at No. 10 on the 50 Best Bars of North America list, the first Chicago bar to make the list since 2018. In addition to those two accolades, Momosé previously won a James Beard Award for the cookbook .

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store