Nintendo has officially announced that the Switch 2 will go on sale on June 5, 2025. In Japan, the console is priced at 49,980 yen, about $339. In the UK, the standard retail price is £395.99 (about $505). However, games like the Mario World bundle are listed at £429.99 (around $549). Following the product announcement, select retailers in various regions began offering lottery or pre-order access. This has set off a rapid and disruptive scalper response. There are reports that the company will adopt a dual-pricing strategy to avoid this.
Retailers see immediate scalper activity
According to the British outlet Metro, major local retailers such as Argos and EE added the console to their listings shortly after the announcement. However, these early pre-orders were quickly targeted by scalpers, who rushed to secure stock for resale. This caused frustration for ordinary consumers, many of whom were unable to place legitimate orders before the stock was depleted.
Soon after the pre-order period opened, second-hand platforms like eBay saw a surge in listings for the Nintendo Switch 2. Many sellers have marked up prices well beyond the official retail rate. At the time of writing, some listings are priced over £600 (approximately $766), with the highest reaching £669.72 (about $855). More significantly, several of these high-priced listings show that they have already been sold, confirming demand in the grey market.
The rapid appearance of scalpers and inflated resale prices reflects a pattern familiar to many gamers, particularly those who attempted to buy high-demand tech products during previous launches. This scenario mirrors what occurred during the early days of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, where widespread shortages were worsened by aggressive reselling practices.
No official response yet
As of now, Nintendo has not issued a statement regarding the scalping issue. It remains to be seen whether further stock will be made available closer to launch or if any measures will be taken to counteract resale manipulation.
With official sales still weeks away, many fans are already expressing disappointment online. The early opportunity to reserve the Switch 2 has, for many, turned into a source of frustration rather than excitement. As resale prices climb, some buyers may be forced to either pay a premium or wait until post-launch restocks arrive.
