NintendoThe flagship Switch 2, the successor to one of its most popular gaming consoles, began selling on Thursday, with excitement and hype, resulting in special store opening hours and shortages in certain markets.

The Japanese gaming giant hopes the console will help maintain the monster rally in its stock, which has risen nearly fivefold since its release in March 2017.

Nintendo also hopes the Switch 2 will match the success of the original Switch, with the switch successfully sold over 152 million units, making it the second highest device in the company's history, behind the Nintendo DS.

According to analysts, demand now looks strong.

"It's the largest console launch ever," George Jijiashvili, senior chief analyst at consulting firm Omdia, told CNBC: "Nintendo fans are crazy about checking stock availability at local stores or eagerly waiting for delivery."

The switch’s popularity is widely attributed to its innovative portable design that combines gaming consoles with mobile gaming. People can play games on their TV and then connect the controller to the console's display and carry it with them.

Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said in April that 2.2 million people entered the lottery in Japan and purchased the Switch 2 on launch day.

Furukawa said it was "beyond" Nintendo's expectations, more than the company could deliver on Thursday.

Japan's shortage is expected to continue.

"The demand for Switch 2 in Japan is actually high altitude, maybe higher than anywhere else," Serkan Toto, CEO of Tokyo-based Games Consultancy Kantan Games, told CNBC.

“You can’t walk into a shop anywhere in Japan without a reservation and pick up the Switch 2, which won’t change in the next few weeks and months.”

In China, major online retailer JD.com said it had booked 400,000 units on the console that started shipping on Thursday. Not everyone who keeps the console will end up buying one.

In the United States, Best Buy has opened a number of stores across the country at midnight Thursday (or late Wednesday depending on the time zone) for in-store purchases. Walmart said it will open orders online at midnight, as well as 6 a.m. in-store. Walmart's website currently shows that the console is sold out.

In the UK, there seems to be more availability. Amazon's UK page shows that Switch 2 is available on Friday. Other retailers, such as curry and toy store Smyth's, seem to have stocks as well.

"Given the pent-up demand, it is inevitable that the launch day will be sold out. However, we believe Nintendo is well prepared and hopes to provide a steady supply in the next few weeks," said Jijiashvili of Omdia.

Last month, Nintendo said it expected to sell 15 million Switch 2 consoles for the fiscal year ending March 2026. However, analysts say this is conservative.

Kantan Games' Toto said he forecasts sales of 20 million units in the first year. Omdia said it will sell 14.4 million consoles in 2025 alone, which will be ahead of the original Switch's debut year.