Nintendo unveils the new requirements for buying a Switch 2

Nintendo is taking scalpers head on with the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, and as the company teased many months ago, it has a plan in place to mitigate scalping as much as possible. We now know what that plan is.

Nintendo just wrapped up its Switch 2-dedicated Direct, where we got a close-up look at the highly anticipated console, the new Mario Kart game launching alongside it, and an official release date/price. The Nintendo Switch 2 will release on June 5, and the base console will be priced at $449, with the Mario Kart World bundle being $499.

As with every major console release, gamers are quick to raise concerns about scalping, or the practice of people buying the console at retail price and reselling it for a profit. However, Nintendo's plan to prevent this as much as possible involves mass stock, which it has already secured and shipped to the US, and several new plans.

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The new system is fairly straightforward in how it works, and while its effectiveness has yet to be measured, it seems quite good on paper. To order a Nintendo Switch 2 from Nintendo, you will first need to accept the invitation to purchase the new system from Nintendo, which will be sent to your Nintendo Switch Online account.

The first wave of invitations is scheduled to be sent out on May 8, with pre-orders becoming available on April 9. Once an invitation has been sent, the account will have 72 hours to complete the purchase.

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Additionally, Nintendo is limiting purchases of the Switch 2 to one per account, and while that is quite common practice, there are now some added stipulations. Nintendo will require a buyer to have a Nintendo Switch Online membership, and that membership needs to have been held for at least 12 months.

Moreover, a buyer must agree to share gameplay data with Nintendo, and that gameplay data must have at least 50 combined hours of Nintendo Switch gameplay as of Wednesday, April 2.

Nintendo's Scalping Prevention Tactics

• Nintendo Account holders in the US and Canada who are at least 18 years old are eligible to register.
• The first batch of invitations will go out starting May 8, 2025, with additional batches of invitation email sent periodically until purchasing on My Nintendo Store is opened to everyone.
• Initial invitation emails will be delivered on a first-come, first-serve basis to eligible registrants who meet the priority criteria. Invitees will have 72 hours from the time when the email is sent to complete their purchase.
• Priority requirements are as follows: As of 4/2/2025, (i) you must have been the one who purchased any Nintendo Switch Online membership, (ii) you must have had any paid Nintendo Switch Online membership for a minimum of 12 months, and (iii) you must have opted in to share gameplay data and have at least 50 hours total gameplay hours

• Read more: Nintendo officially confirms Switch 2 release date and launch title
• Read more: Nintendo Switch 2 specs confirmed: 1080p display 120Hz handheld, upscaled 4K
• Read more: Elden Ring confirmed to launch on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025