TheNintendo Switch 2has finally been revealed following a lengthy period of anticipation and rumors, and the promises already made regarding its offerings have built up significant hype around the upcoming console. Set to be released just months after its announcement this year, it appears poised to address the most prominent shortcomings of its aging predecessor. With the inevitably high demand for theNintendo Switch 2on the horizon, however, the risk of reseller scalpers taking advantage of its release remains a looming threat.
As a persistent issue in the gaming industry as a whole, scalping has seen increasingly absurd aftermarket prices associated with new systems whenever stock runs short of consumer expectations. This issue has hardly been helped by the limited availability of major consoles around their launches in the past, but Nintendo is reportedly aiming to change this pattern. With only one simple method outlined for this goal so far, multiple measures could be necessary to protect theaccessible status of the Nintendo Switch 2as a product for the general public.
Nintendo Seems to Have Prepared to Combat Scalping From the Nintendo Switch 2’s Inception
Mass Production is Intended to Reduce Demand
According to company president Shuntaro Furukawa, there have beenplans to avoid scalping of the Nintendo Switch 2in place long before its recent reveal. This comes in the form of the straightforward intention to produce a “sufficient number” of units to fulfill all potential orders upon the console’s release. While this might require a massive investment in terms of having these products premade, adhering to this tactic could lead to a drastic decline in the resale market.
The Potential Benefits of Being a Successor Console
A core challenge of console production is the cost of parts and construction on a grand scale, which has led to several major systems notably being sold at a loss for a period following their initial launches, or potentially even throughout their entire lives. Examples apparently include the PS3 and PS5, Wii U, and possibly all Xbox systems, as these companies generate profit through other mediums.
If the Switch 2 is focused on being anevolution of the first Nintendo Switchinstead of a totally new device from scratch, Nintendo will perhaps be able to refine the factory process by using similar parts and familiarity to reduce its upfront cost. This would help ensure a high stock remains available, but that may not be enough to ward off reselling alone.
Ensuring Scalpers Don’t Take Advantage of the Nintendo Switch 2’s Popularity May Require More Strategies
Responsibly Managing the Console Market During a Massive Launch is Critical
Ultimately, it’s still entirely possible thatthe demand for the Nintendo Switch 2will end up exceeding its supply at some point in spite of Nintendo’s efforts to match its hype. The company is more likely to ensure availability by having a more direct hand in regulating the market—a prospect Nintendo is capable of by limiting the number of consoles that can be purchased by each individual. By working to retain strong relationships with retailers, or even focusing more heavily on direct-to-consumer sales, circumstances where stores are selling out of the console due to a few resellers hoarding orders could be prevented.
Resellers Have Historically Capitalized on a Lack of Communication with Consumers
While efforts to influence the Nintendo Switch 2’s demand through better controlling its stock may be inherently effective, being more transparent about availability could be the most helpful above all. By keeping buyers as informed as possible about the status of restocks or limited units, the urgent sense of scarcity which has driven people tooverpay at the hands of console scalperswould only be further mitigated.
Nintendo Switch 2
The successor to 2017’s Nintendo Switch continues down the same path as its predecessor, providing a hybrid experience that supports both home and handheld gaming. Launching on July 22, 2025, with games like Mario Kart World, the basic Nintendo Switch 2 bundle comes with the console, Joy-Con 2, straps for the controller, a dock, an AC adapter, an HDMI cable, and a Joy-Con 2 grip.
