Nintendo planned the Switch 2’s worldwide launch to be a big moment, but it’s already off to a rough start.
Scalpers have quickly grabbed consoles across Japan and North America, flipping them for twice the retail price and making it hard for real fans to get one.
How Bad Is the Switch 2 Situation in Japan?
Within minutes of launch in Japan, Mercari and Rakuma saw a massive surge of Nintendo Switch 2 listings.
Dozens of consoles were snapped up by sellers before most buyers in Japan got out of bed. A self-proclaimed “King of the Scalpers” shipped hundreds of units early, with some sold days before the official launch.
The Mario Kart World set usually costs about ¥54,000 (around $378) but has been marked up to almost ¥85,000 (close to $595). Even the basic version of the console was being flipped for at least $100 above its retail price.
What’s Going On in the U.S. and Other Regions?
Buyers across the ocean started getting their Switch 2 consoles on June 5, while U.S. customers waited for midnight store launches.
Even before lines formed, eBay and Mercari were already packed with listings. Some sellers charged over $849, nearly double the $450 price, hoping to profit from fears of limited supply and slow restocks.
These overpriced units found quick buyers among fans who faced canceled preorders and checkout problems.
Didn’t Nintendo Try to Prevent This?
To curb scalpers, Nintendo’s official store restricted purchases to one console per account and required customers to have an old Nintendo account with recorded playtime.
However, third-party sellers like Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy weren’t bound by these rules. Scalpers exploited this loophole by ordering multiple units from various retailers and making big profits reselling them shortly before the console’s launch.
Why Are Fans Still Buying from Scalpers?
Even worse, fans who secured preorders at retail faced sudden cancellations because of system bugs and stock issues.
Demand shot up while availability dropped, pushing many to buy from scalpers reluctantly.
Forums are filled with users saying they forked out hundreds more just to avoid missing out. The company is working with major resale platforms in Japan to take down bad listings.
They also ban those who break the rules repeatedly. However, this enforcement hasn’t spread globally. Scalping is still running wild across North America, Europe, and beyond, with no end in sight.
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