Forward-looking: Nintendo has confirmed that it is releasing a Nintendo Switch 2, which means the next thing fans have to worry about is the inevitable scalping problem. However, Nintendo says there’s a simple way to stop this irritating issue: make enough Switch 2 units to meet demand.
As per Nintendo’s shareholder Q&A document, a shareholder asked company executives what measures they were taking to stop people from buying up the Switch 2 console in bulk when it launches and reselling them at a higher price. Scalping, basically.
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said that a plan to introduce some measures was explored last year. “As a countermeasure for resale, we believe that it is most important to produce a sufficient number to meet customer demand. This idea has not changed since last year,” explained Furukawa.
The Nintendo boss added that the company is also considering whether it can carry out other scalping countermeasures, and that it will take into account the circumstances of each region and make decisions within the limits permitted by law.
During the height of the chip crisis and pandemic in 2020 and 2021, items such as graphics cards, PlayStation 5 consoles, and the Nintendo Switch became impossible to find – unless you were willing to hand over a small fortune to scalpers. Most of these resellers tried to justify this behavior by saying they’re just middlemen or young people trying to make a good living, which definitely makes you feel better about someone selling a PS5 for $2,500 to a desperate family during the holidays.
Things slowly improved, though it took until April 2023 before we heard that scalpers were struggling to sell gaming consoles as supplies returned to normal.
Even when the Switch first launched in March 2017, a few years before the pandemic, there were supply problems that led to demand exceeding availability. Scalpers took advantage and started selling the hybrid machine at inflated prices back then, too.
“There were times when we were unable to produce hardware, but that situation has now been resolved,” Furukawa said, noting that semiconductor shortages have impacted Switch 2 manufacturing in recent years. “We do not believe that the lack of parts will have a major impact on production at this time,” he added.
Nintendo confirmed in May that it would announce a Switch successor this financial year, which ends on March 31, 2025. Many believe Nintendo will make an official announcement/reveal sometime this fall before launching the Switch 2 in March 2025.
Back in February, rumors started swirling that claimed the Switch successor had seen its original 2024 release date pushed back to early 2025. Nintendo reportedly decided to postpone so it could stockpile consoles for the launch. It’s hoped that the move will help avoid scalping.
The Switch 2 is expected to come with a big spec bump compared to the current model. Check out the some of the alleged components in this apparent leak.
