Fed Up With Switch 2 Scalpers, Nintendo Fans Are Fighting Back

Like most sought-after devices, there has been some concern that the Switch 2 could end up in the crosshairs of scalpers ahead of its launch in June. While some people are already attempting to sell the console at a higher price on sites like eBay, Nintendo fans are stepping in to report these listings en masse.

On the Nintendo Switch 2 subreddit (as spotted by GamesRadar), there are numerous posts detailing the war on scalpers. Currently, eBay's rules state that an item may not be sold unless it can be shipped out within 40 days, and at the time of writing, 55 days remain between now and the Switch 2 launch on June 5. Nintendo fans have been reporting these listings as soon as they pop up, and the subreddit is full of tips and tricks detailing how people can help out.

Back in February, Nintendo spoke about its preparations for the Switch 2 launch, including taking all "possible measures" to discourage scalping. "We will take all possible measures based on the experience we have accumulated to date," Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said back then. "We are making preparations."

One of Nintendo's measures for fighting back against scalpers is that it will sell the Switch 2 through its store, but potential buyers will have to meet certain criteria to be eligible to purchase the console. People who have had a Nintendo Switch Online subscription--that they purchased--for at least one year and who have at least 50 gameplay hours on their profile will be given preorder priority.

While the Switch sold quite well following its launch in 2017, the COVID pandemic and the global semiconductor shortage saw demand for the console surge. As a result, scalpers were emboldened to grab as much stock as possible and resell it for a profit. The late-2020 launch of the Xbox Series X|S and PS5 consoles was also beset with stock shortages that scalpers exacerbated.

The Switch 2 is currently available for preorder across the world, but it's a different story in the US and Canada. Preorders in the US were supposed to begin on April 9, but following US President Donald Trump's sweeping new tariffs, these plans were put on hold. Earlier this week, Trump temporarily lowered the tariffs to 10% but has since escalated his trade war with China by increasing their tariffs to 125%.

What this means for the Switch 2 release in the US remains to be seen, as it was reported that Nintendo shifted production to Vietnam and Cambodia to get ahead of the tariffs. The tariff rate for these countries was set to 46% and 49%, respectively, but the new 10% rate in place will expire on July 8. Analysts predict that the $450 price tag for the base model Switch 2 won't be changed, as they believe that Nintendo will ship even more Switch 2 units to its warehouses in the US.