May 25, 2026 — Nintendo has amended purchasing rules for the Nintendo Switch 2 in Japan after a surge in demand ahead of a previously announced price increase.
The change affects purchases made through the My Nintendo Store and was reported on May 25, 2026 by Sickr.
Background
The Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo’s follow-up to the Nintendo Switch platform, has seen heightened interest in Japan as consumers react to a company-wide decision to raise the console’s price at a future date.
To manage allocation through its direct retail channel, Nintendo originally implemented an eligibility condition tied to the buyer’s Nintendo Account.
What changed
Nintendo removed a previous requirement that prospective buyers have logged at least 50 hours of playtime on their Nintendo Account in order to purchase the Nintendo Switch 2 from the My Nintendo Store.
Instead of the playtime threshold, Nintendo is now restricting sales to one console per person in Japan.
In journalistic terms: Nintendo said it has scrapped the 50-hour Nintendo Account playtime requirement and replaced it with a limit of one unit per customer for Switch 2 purchases through its official store in Japan.
Why it matters
The decision affects how quickly individual consumers can obtain the Nintendo Switch 2 directly from Nintendo’s own retail channel in Japan.
By eliminating the playtime metric, Nintendo is simplifying eligibility while maintaining control over stock distribution with a per-person cap.
The move comes as the company prepares for a planned price increase, a development that has contributed to higher short-term demand.
What’s verified
- Report date: May 25, 2026 (Sickr).
- Platform affected: My Nintendo Store sales in Japan.
- Former requirement: Buyers needed a minimum of 50 hours of Nintendo Account playtime to purchase the Switch 2 via the My Nintendo Store (now removed).
- Current rule: One Nintendo Switch 2 per person for purchases through Nintendo’s official Japan store.
- Context: Change follows a surge in demand ahead of a previously announced price increase for the console.
This update is limited to Nintendo’s official store policy in Japan as reported; Nintendo has not expanded details about whether similar measures will be applied in other regions.
The change affects purchases made through the My Nintendo Store and was reported on May 25, 2026 by Sickr.
Background
The Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo’s follow-up to the Nintendo Switch platform, has seen heightened interest in Japan as consumers react to a company-wide decision to raise the console’s price at a future date.
To manage allocation through its direct retail channel, Nintendo originally implemented an eligibility condition tied to the buyer’s Nintendo Account.
What changed
Nintendo removed a previous requirement that prospective buyers have logged at least 50 hours of playtime on their Nintendo Account in order to purchase the Nintendo Switch 2 from the My Nintendo Store.
Instead of the playtime threshold, Nintendo is now restricting sales to one console per person in Japan.
In journalistic terms: Nintendo said it has scrapped the 50-hour Nintendo Account playtime requirement and replaced it with a limit of one unit per customer for Switch 2 purchases through its official store in Japan.
Why it matters
The decision affects how quickly individual consumers can obtain the Nintendo Switch 2 directly from Nintendo’s own retail channel in Japan.
By eliminating the playtime metric, Nintendo is simplifying eligibility while maintaining control over stock distribution with a per-person cap.
The move comes as the company prepares for a planned price increase, a development that has contributed to higher short-term demand.
What’s verified
- Report date: May 25, 2026 (Sickr).
- Platform affected: My Nintendo Store sales in Japan.
- Former requirement: Buyers needed a minimum of 50 hours of Nintendo Account playtime to purchase the Switch 2 via the My Nintendo Store (now removed).
- Current rule: One Nintendo Switch 2 per person for purchases through Nintendo’s official Japan store.
- Context: Change follows a surge in demand ahead of a previously announced price increase for the console.
This update is limited to Nintendo’s official store policy in Japan as reported; Nintendo has not expanded details about whether similar measures will be applied in other regions.
