Nintendo Switch 2: the post-release commotion and fight against resales

Nintendo Switch 2: strange release in Juni

Nintendo Switch 2: strange release in Juni, Released as the successor to the Switch, Accelerating high-price resale of home video game consoles, Two versions available: Japan-only and multilingual, A system to prevent high-priced resale overseas, Applying for the reservation lottery was difficult, Reselling on black-market apps, Measures against resales while also linking with black-market apps, Some sites even prohibit the listing of the Switch 2 itself

Since its release in June this year, the Nintendo Switch 2 home video game console has become a hot topic, with stock selling out quickly around the world.

Released as the successor to the Switch

Nintendo Switch 2: strange release in Juni, Released as the successor to the Switch, Accelerating high-price resale of home video game consoles, Two versions available: Japan-only and multilingual, A system to prevent high-priced resale overseas, Applying for the reservation lottery was difficult, Reselling on black-market apps, Measures against resales while also linking with black-market apps, Some sites even prohibit the listing of the Switch 2 itself

The Nintendo Switch 2 was unveiled as the successor to the Switch from 2017. The Switch had been a huge hit, with sales exceeding 150 million units as of the end of 2024. Fans were eagerly awaiting the Switch 2's release.

Accelerating high-price resale of home video game consoles

Nintendo Switch 2: strange release in Juni, Released as the successor to the Switch, Accelerating high-price resale of home video game consoles, Two versions available: Japan-only and multilingual, A system to prevent high-priced resale overseas, Applying for the reservation lottery was difficult, Reselling on black-market apps, Measures against resales while also linking with black-market apps, Some sites even prohibit the listing of the Switch 2 itself

On the other hand, resale on flea market apps, etc, had become a problem. The PlayStation 5, a game console released by Sony in 2020, had often been resold beyond Japan at high prices. Therefore, a commotion ensued when the manufacturer and retailers began to take measures to prevent resale of the Switch 2.

Two versions available: Japan-only and multilingual

Nintendo Switch 2: strange release in Juni, Released as the successor to the Switch, Accelerating high-price resale of home video game consoles, Two versions available: Japan-only and multilingual, A system to prevent high-priced resale overseas, Applying for the reservation lottery was difficult, Reselling on black-market apps, Measures against resales while also linking with black-market apps, Some sites even prohibit the listing of the Switch 2 itself

Nintendo implemented various measures to prevent high-priced resales. Specifically, they prepared two versions of the console: a Japan-only version and a multilingual version. They are selling them with a large price difference, the former costing $339 and the latter $449.99.

A system to prevent high-priced resale overseas

Nintendo Switch 2: strange release in Juni, Released as the successor to the Switch, Accelerating high-price resale of home video game consoles, Two versions available: Japan-only and multilingual, A system to prevent high-priced resale overseas, Applying for the reservation lottery was difficult, Reselling on black-market apps, Measures against resales while also linking with black-market apps, Some sites even prohibit the listing of the Switch 2 itself

When using the domestically exclusive Switch 2, games purchased in other countries will not work, and the only language supported is Japanese. The intention is to prevent the resale of game consoles at high prices beyond Japan.

Applying for the reservation lottery was difficult

Nintendo Switch 2: strange release in Juni, Released as the successor to the Switch, Accelerating high-price resale of home video game consoles, Two versions available: Japan-only and multilingual, A system to prevent high-priced resale overseas, Applying for the reservation lottery was difficult, Reselling on black-market apps, Measures against resales while also linking with black-market apps, Some sites even prohibit the listing of the Switch 2 itself

In addition, Nintendo set conditions for those who applied for the lottery to first buy the Switch 2. According to the company's announcement, as of the end of February, Nintendo Switch software play time is 50 hours or more. At the time of application, Japanese buyers must have a cumulative subscription period of at least one year to paid online services for Switch users, and they must be a subscriber at the time of application.

Reselling on black-market apps

Nintendo Switch 2: strange release in Juni, Released as the successor to the Switch, Accelerating high-price resale of home video game consoles, Two versions available: Japan-only and multilingual, A system to prevent high-priced resale overseas, Applying for the reservation lottery was difficult, Reselling on black-market apps, Measures against resales while also linking with black-market apps, Some sites even prohibit the listing of the Switch 2 itself

Despite the large-scale measures taken to prevent resale, on the day of the console's release on June 5th, some Switch 2s were found on black market sites for prices far over the retail price.

Measures against resales while also linking with black-market apps

Nintendo Switch 2: strange release in Juni, Released as the successor to the Switch, Accelerating high-price resale of home video game consoles, Two versions available: Japan-only and multilingual, A system to prevent high-priced resale overseas, Applying for the reservation lottery was difficult, Reselling on black-market apps, Measures against resales while also linking with black-market apps, Some sites even prohibit the listing of the Switch 2 itself

Nintendo announced at the end of May that it had agreed to cooperate with three major flea market app operators-  Mercari, LINE Yahoo, and Rakuten Group - to prevent fraudulent listings. Measures against resales will likely continue to be strengthened in the future.

Some sites even prohibit the listing of the Switch 2 itself

Nintendo Switch 2: strange release in Juni, Released as the successor to the Switch, Accelerating high-price resale of home video game consoles, Two versions available: Japan-only and multilingual, A system to prevent high-priced resale overseas, Applying for the reservation lottery was difficult, Reselling on black-market apps, Measures against resales while also linking with black-market apps, Some sites even prohibit the listing of the Switch 2 itself

In particular, LINE Yahoo! announced that it would temporarily ban the listing of the Switch 2 on Yahoo! Auctions and Yahoo! Flea Market following the release of the Switch 2. It intended to take strict measures against accounts that list the product, such as suspending the accounts.

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