Nintendo’s Shocking Plan to Destroy Switch 2 Scalpers

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Summary

  • Nintendo is taking measures to stop scalpers ahead of the launch of the Switch 2.
  • The company plans to have more inventory at launch to avoid the issues faced with the original Switch.
  • In 2024, CEO Shuntaro Furukawa suggested Nintendo was considering legal action against scalpers in some regions to protect Switch 2 availability.

With the Nintendo Switch 2 launch just around the corner, I, as an excited gamer, am reassured that Nintendo has taken steps to curb scalping activities. The scalability issue was a significant concern with the first Switch when it debuted in 2017, but now, they’re confident they can steer clear of similar challenges this time. Despite forecasts indicating robust sales for the Nintendo Switch 2, they still believe they can tackle scalpers and stockouts effectively.

Although Nintendo hasn’t announced an official launch date yet for their upcoming console, there’s certainly a lot of buzz surrounding it. Analysts predict that the successor to the Switch, or “Switch 2,” might not outperform its predecessor, but considering the exceptional sales of the original Switch, equaling those numbers could be challenging. Regardless, the new console is expected to attract a significant number of buyers, and Nintendo seems prepared for the anticipated rush of customers.

Nintendo’s President, Shuntaro Furukawa, shared with Nikkei that Nintendo intends to have an ample supply of the upcoming Switch 2 units at launch, aiming to avoid the shortages experienced during the initial Switch release. He pointed out that restricted availability at the first Switch’s debut created problems with resellers, and acknowledged the negative impact this had on consumers. To address these concerns, Nintendo is leveraging lessons from the past and increasing its inventory before the console goes on sale. This strategy should provide more buyers with an opportunity to purchase a unit without needing to wait for restocks or resorting to buying one on the secondary market. This move could potentially corroborate earlier whispers suggesting that Nintendo has boosted Switch 2 production in anticipation of its release.

Nintendo Says the Switch 2 Will Have More Inventory at Launch Than the Original

It’s uncertain exactly how many models of the new Nintendo console will be available for shipping on launch day. However, Furukawa mentioned that they are ready to implement “every feasible measure” to prevent scalpers from buying up large quantities. In 2024, Furukawa hinted at potential legal action against scalpers in certain areas to safeguard the availability of Switch 2, but stressed that a larger initial production run was their main approach. While details about the plan are not yet clear, it seems Nintendo has been thinking about this issue for some time before announcing the console, which suggests they might be better equipped to handle the release compared to the original Switch.

Not just Nintendo, other companies like Nvidia have faced issues with stock shortages and scalpers too. The RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUs were sold out instantly upon launch, and some scalpers had already listed them before they went on sale. Nintendo aims to steer clear of such situations with the Switch 2, but it remains to be seen how effective their anti-scalping measures will be.

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2025-02-04 20:24