Nintendo is imposing a condition on Switch 2 purchases in Japan: Anyone who wants the multilingual version from the online store must have at least 50 hours of playtime on the original Switch.
Leading up to the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, there was widespread concern about scalpers looking to resell the console at inflated prices.
The situation in the weeks following the release wasn’t quite as dramatic as feared, but in light of a recently announced price increase and the ongoing memory chip shortage, some scalpers sense a potential new opportunity.
To preempt this existing trend, Nintendo has now introduced a new hurdle in its home market of Japan: Anyone in Japan who wants to purchase a Nintendo Switch 2 through the official online store will first have to prove that they actually use the device.
Specifically, anyone wishing to purchase the multilingual version of the Switch 2 through the Japanese store must have at least 50 hours of playtime on their first Switch registered to their Nintendo account. The deadline for this is May 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
There is also a second restriction: Only one device can be ordered per Nintendo account.
50 Hours Required (with Restrictions)
Not every hour counts toward this requirement. The 50 hours must be accumulated in games you’ve purchased or downloaded—according to Nintendo, demos and Free-to-Play titles do not count. So anyone who primarily used the original Switch for free games should be able to clear this hurdle.
In its official statement on X, Nintendo explained that it had detected several orders on the Nintendo Store for the multilingual Switch 2 that appeared to be scalping attempts. As a result, sales were temporarily suspended.
Regarding the sale of the Nintendo Switch 2 (multilingual) on the Nintendo Store, we have temporarily suspended sales after identifying multiple orders suspected of hoarding or similar activities. …
— Nintendo Co., Ltd. (@Nintendo) June 11, 2026
Why Japan, specifically?
Scalpers’ latest strategy is based on the exchange rate. Because the yen is weak, imports from Japan are significantly cheaper than purchases from other regions. It is precisely this price difference that resellers are capitalizing on (viaNotebookcheck). According to Nintendo, the company is actively monitoring suspicious accounts and has already canceled orders that appear to be scalping attempts.
Speaking of exceptions: The Japan-only version of the Switch 2, which displays only Japanese characters, is not subject to the new rule—in the vast majority of cases, it is simply of no interest for resale abroad.
