Scalpers who buy up multiples of a popular product only to sell them for a higher price exist just about everywhere these days, but over the last couple of years gamers have had it especially rough. With Nintendo’s new Switch 2 console becoming available to pre-order starting potentially as early as April 9th, a new set of rules have been put in place to determine who gets to click the buy button first and who will have to wait until consoles arrive on store shelves. It’s great news for Nintendo Switch fans who have been eager to upgrade to this new console, and terrible news for those looking to make a quick buck from the excitement of others.
Fans will be able to request an invitation to buy a Nintendo Switch 2 starting soon, and will run you either $449 for just the console or $499 for a bundle with Mario Kart World included. According to Nintendo, this invitation system is the best way to ensure you are one of the first to buy. The first wave of invitations to buy will be sent on a first-come, first-served basis, and are expected to arrive on May 8th. Once that invitation is sent, you will have 72 hours to complete the purchase and then the console will be shipped directly to you.
It’s a relatively straightforward system, not terribly different from invitation systems we’ve seen from Sony and Amazon for the PlayStation 5 during its supply shortage. Nintendo is limiting purchases to one console per Nintendo Switch Online account, and while accessories will be available to buy at that same time the same one per account limit will apply. What makes this different is a note in the FAQ section of Nintendo’s website, which identifies what you need to do in order to be considered for an invitation. There are three qualifiers:
- You have to have a Nintendo Switch Online membership, and that membership needs to be in your name.
- You must have had any version of the Nintendo Switch Online membership for at least 12 months.
- You must have opted in to share your gameplay data with Nintendo, and have at least 50 combined hours of Nintendo Switch gameplay as of Wednesday, April 2nd.
By implementing these rules, Nintendo has made it clear the first wave of Switch 2 consoles are exclusively for the fans. There will be plenty of other places you will be able to pre-order a Switch 2, but if you want one of the first consoles straight from Nintendo, the company is making it clear scalpers are not welcome. Invitations to purchase will be non-transferrable, and you will need to be able to log in to the My Nintendo Account that received the invitation in order to complete a purchase. It looks like a lot of hoops to jump through, but if it means you can actually make a purchase and the number of $1,000 consoles on eBay is decreased, it’ll be well worth it to those who get an invitation.
