Nintendo Switch 2 Launch: Nintendo Vows Strong Measures Against Scalpers Ahead of Release

Nintendo Switch 2, the highly anticipated successor to the Nintendo Switch, is set for a major launch in 2025, and Nintendo leadership is taking deliberate action to address one of the biggest issues hardware launches have faced in recent years: scalping and reselling.

As the company readies itself for the next step in its hardware evolution, consumers and industry watchers alike are looking for assurances that stock shortages and the resale market disruptions that plagued the original Switch will not be repeated. Speaking with the media during the release of Nintendo's most recent financial report, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa made a clear commitment to managing the launch of the Switch 2 in a way that protects consumers from scalpers.

According to Furukawa, Nintendo will implement comprehensive measures, drawing from lessons learned over previous console generations, to ensure a smoother purchasing experience for fans and legitimate buyers.

“Based on the experience we have accumulated thus far regarding scalpers and resellers, we are preparing to take every possible precaution,” Furukawa stated in remarks translated and reported by Nikkei and Video Games Chronicle. The importance of these measures is underscored by industry forecasts.

Analytical firm DFC Intelligence projects that if Nintendo can meet consumer demand, Switch 2 sales could reach between 15 and 17 million units in 2025.

Given the widespread excitement surrounding the new platform, ensuring sufficient hardware supply from launch day will be crucial in both combating scalpers and maximizing sales potential on the Nintendo eShop and at retail. The Switch 2 was officially unveiled on January 16, 2025, through a debut trailer that highlighted the console's innovations and confirmed that a new installment in the Mario Kart franchise is currently in development.

The reveal signaled Nintendo’s intent to build on its hybrid hardware legacy with meaningful upgrades while maintaining access to popular franchises that have defined the Switch’s success. To further stoke interest and confidence in the upcoming platform, Nintendo has scheduled a dedicated Nintendo Direct focused on Switch 2 for April 2.

This will be followed by a series of global hands-on events running through April and May, allowing fans and press to experience what the next generation of Nintendo gaming has to offer firsthand. As anticipation for the Nintendo Switch 2 launch builds, the company’s proactive approach to thwarting scalpers affirms its commitment to serving its core gaming audience.

If Nintendo’s promised strategies succeed, fans may finally experience a next-gen console launch that is not overshadowed by resale prices and shortages but celebrated for innovation and accessibility.

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