With the launch of the Switch 2 drawing near, Nintendo is stepping up its game to tackle the issue of scalpers. The company faced significant challenges with limited availability and resellers during the original Switch’s debut back in 2017. However, this time around, Nintendo is set on avoiding a repeat scenario. Despite forecasts suggesting that the Switch 2 will be in high demand, Nintendo believes it can effectively manage scalper activities and prevent stockouts.
Although there’s no official word yet on when Nintendo’s newest console will hit the shelves, anticipation is building. Industry experts doubt the Switch 2 will surpass the original’s sales records; replicating the first Switch’s groundbreaking success is a tall order. Regardless, the upcoming console is expected to be a hot commodity. But Nintendo is ready for the inevitable rush.
In a recent conversation with Nikkei, Nintendo’s President Shuntaro Furukawa emphasized the company’s strategy to ensure ample Switch 2 inventory at launch, aiming to prevent the shortages that plagued the first Switch release. Acknowledging the impact scalpers had on consumers previously, Furukawa highlighted that Nintendo is applying hard-earned lessons from 2017. By bolstering production before its official sale, Nintendo aims to give consumers a better shot at purchasing the console without enduring long waits or having to turn to resellers. This aligns with earlier conjectures suggesting that Nintendo was gearing up for an increased production of the Switch 2 in preparation for its launch.
However, it’s still unclear exactly how many units Nintendo will have ready for dispatch on launch day. Furukawa assured that the company is taking “every possible measure” to curb scalper activity. Legal actions were even discussed as a potential remedy in certain regions to safeguard Switch 2 availability come 2024, although a larger initial inventory remains the chief focus. It seems Nintendo has been planning meticulously for this situation, likely making them better equipped for this release compared to the original Switch launch.
Nintendo isn’t the only player in the tech space battling scarcity and scalpers. The recent release of Nvidia’s RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUs saw them snapped up almost instantly, with scalpers listing them even before they became officially available. It’s precisely these kinds of scenarios that Nintendo hopes to avoid with the Switch 2. Fans will just have to wait and see how effective the company’s anti-scalper strategy turns out to be.
Stay tuned to see if Nintendo’s plans really make a difference when the Switch 2 finally hits the market.
