Nintendo is making it harder for Switch 2 scalpers to buy up stock and resell the console at inflated prices. The company has introduced stricter purchase requirements for the Nintendo Switch 2 through its Japanese online store, aiming to ensure more consoles reach genuine players instead of resellers.
Scalping has been a major problem for the Nintendo Switch 2, especially as demand remains high. Some resellers have been targeting Japan’s official Nintendo Store because exchange rates can make the console cheaper there than in other regions. After buying multiple units, they often list them at much higher prices in overseas markets.
To reduce this practice, Nintendo is now requiring buyers of the multi-language Nintendo Switch 2 from its Japanese store to prove they are active Switch users. Under the new policy, a Nintendo Account must have at least 50 hours of playtime on the original Nintendo Switch by 11:59 PM on May 31, 2026.
However, not all playtime counts. Nintendo says the 50 hours must come from games that were purchased or downloaded by the user. Time spent in demos or free-to-play software will not qualify toward the requirement. This makes it more difficult for scalpers to quickly create accounts just to buy consoles in bulk.
Nintendo is also limiting purchases to one multi-language Nintendo Switch 2 per Nintendo Account. The company says it has already detected multiple orders suspected of being linked to resale activity and temporarily paused sales while reviewing the situation. Suspicious orders may be canceled as part of the company’s broader effort to stop bulk buying.
In a public statement, Nintendo explained that the new rules are designed to help deliver the Nintendo Switch 2 to as many customers as possible. The company confirmed that only accounts meeting the 50-hour playtime requirement will be eligible to purchase the multi-language model through the Japanese online store.
The policy applies specifically to the multi-language version of the Nintendo Switch 2. It does not affect the Japan-only model, which displays Japanese text and characters. That version is less attractive to international resellers, so it is not being targeted in the same way.
Nintendo’s move comes at a critical time for the Switch 2 market. The company is preparing to increase the price of the standard Nintendo Switch 2 in the United States by $50 in September, bringing it to $499.99. With prices going up, demand could become even more intense, making anti-scalping measures more important for regular buyers.
By tying Switch 2 purchases to real account activity, Nintendo is taking a more direct approach than simple purchase limits alone. The 50-hour playtime rule rewards existing players and makes it harder for automated accounts or opportunistic resellers to grab stock before genuine customers get the chance.
For fans hoping to buy a Nintendo Switch 2 at retail price, this could be a welcome step. While it may not eliminate scalping entirely, the new system should make mass purchasing more difficult and help keep more consoles in the hands of players who actually plan to use them.
