Nintendo says demand for Switch 2 console in Japan is overwhelming

Nintendo has said it is seeing overwhelming demand for its upcoming Switch 2 game console in Japan, in a sign the gadget could be on track for the biggest hardware launch in the video game industry's history. "We have received 2.2 million applications for the lottery sale at our official online store for customers in Japan alone, which is far larger than what we had anticipated," Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa posted on X Wednesday. "As such, we apologize that a significant number of the applicants wouldn't be selected." The Kyoto-based company introduced a lottery system to deal with high demand in Japan that prioritizes customers who played frequently and made online subscription purchases on the original Switch. Preorders will begin on Thursday.