The company is closing a loophole that would let scalpers to drive up prices
With computer hardware prices already in disarray following an uptick in AI data center nonsense and other “market conditions,” Nintendo is clamping down on scalpers who could further drive up costs of the Nintendo Switch 2.
Nintendo of Japan announced on X that it will implement a new policy to make it harder for scalpers to buy the multi-language version of the console through its Japanese Nintendo store. Specifically, those purchasing the Japanese multi-language version of the Switch 2 will need a Nintendo Account with at least 50 hours of playtime on the Nintendo Switch (excluding demos and free software). Only one console will be sold per account.
Scalpers seem to have realized that it’s cheaper to import a Japanese multi-language version of the console due to the yen’s weakened purchasing power, leading to a spike in console sales through Nintendo’s store. The company caught on to this and canceled the suspicious transactions while instituting the previously mentioned limits. These changes won’t apply to the cheaper Japan-exclusive version of the console, which apparently wasn’t targeted by scalpers because it only supports Japanese text. The scalping spike comes ahead of the previously announced $50 price increase for the Nintendo Switch 2, set for this September. The console will go from $449.99 to $499.99 later this summer.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is the latest game console to see a price increase due to the ongoing global RAM shortage caused by Big Tech’s scramble to build AI data centers people don’t want. Sony increased the price of the base PlayStation 5 by $50 in August 2025 and by an additional $100 in April, bringing the system to $649.99 ($150 more thanat launch in 2020). Similarly, Microsoft raised prices across the board, eventually taking the base Xbox Series X from its launch cost of $499.99 to $649.99. Valve announced a massive price hike for its Steam Deck, raising the 512 GB OLED model from $549 to $789 and the 1 TB model from $649 to $949. In short, things are looking quite bad if you’re trying to purchase gaming hardware.
The dire hardware situation has also had a ripple effect on those who already own systems, prompting console manufacturers to squeeze more from existing users. Last month, Sony announced a price increase for all versions of its online service PlayStation Plus. With console costs in such a dire state, Nintendo’s action against scalpers offers a small silver lining.
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