Nintendo restricts Switch 2 purchases to curb scalpers

Nintendo of Japan said on X it will require buyers of the Japanese multi-language Nintendo Switch 2 from its Japanese store to have a Nintendo Account with at least 50 hours of playtime on the Nintendo Switch (excluding demos and free software). Sales will be limited to one console per account.

Scalpers had been importing the multi-language model because a weak yen made it cheaper, prompting a spike in store sales; Nintendo canceled suspicious transactions and put the new limits in place. The cheaper Japan-exclusive version, which only supports Japanese text, was not targeted and is not subject to the restrictions.

The move comes ahead of a planned $50 price increase for the Switch 2 this September, when the console will rise from $449.99 to $499.99.

Japan

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