Nintendo’s latest anti-scalper move requires Switch playtime in Japan

Nintendo is stepping up its efforts to combat Switch 2 scalping by introducing stricter purchasing requirements through its official Japanese online store. The company has been dealing with resellers who buy consoles in bulk and flip them at inflated prices, often taking advantage of Japan’s weaker yen to secure units at lower costs before exporting them to other regions.

Under the new policy, customers hoping to purchase the multi-language Nintendo Switch 2 from Nintendo’s Japanese online store must meet specific eligibility requirements. Most notably, their Nintendo Account must show at least 50 hours of playtime on the original Nintendo Switch by the end of May 2026. Nintendo has also clarified that only time spent in purchased or downloaded games counts toward this total, meaning hours spent in demos or free-to-play titles will not qualify.

Nintendo says the changes come after identifying numerous orders suspected of being linked to scalping activities. In a statement, the company explained that sales had been temporarily suspended while new measures were put in place to ensure consoles reach genuine customers rather than resellers.

One of the most significant restrictions is a one-console-per-account limit for the multi-language Switch 2. Nintendo is also actively reviewing orders and has already begun canceling purchases it believes are associated with scalping or other suspicious activity.

The stricter rules specifically target the multi-language version because it is the model most frequently purchased by international resellers. By contrast, the Japan-exclusive Switch 2, which only supports Japanese language text and menus, is not subject to these additional requirements since it is far less attractive to overseas buyers.

Nintendo’s latest move represents one of the most aggressive anti-scalping measures introduced by a major gaming hardware manufacturer in recent years. Rather than relying solely on purchase limits, the company is leveraging existing account activity to verify that buyers are genuine Nintendo users with an established history on the platform. The policy also arrives ahead of a planned price increase. Nintendo has confirmed that the standard Switch 2 will rise in price by $50 in the United States beginning in September, bringing the console’s MSRP to $499.99.

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