Nintendo’s Switch 2 nightmare is just around the corner, but Japanese speculators won’t have it easy. The company has teamed up with online marketplaces to combat reselling of the console after its June 5 launch.

Nintendo is on the brink of a milestone that could redefine its entire gaming business. With the Switch 2’s launch imminent, players have already secured their reservations, and the industry is buzzing with excitement for this next generation. While the Kyoto-based company has ironed out all the launch details, it still faces a massive challenge: scalpers. To address this, Nintendo has partnered with several online marketplaces in Japan to prevent the console from being resold at inflated prices after June 5.

As confirmed in a statement published on Nintendo’s Japanese website, the house of Super Mario has reached agreements with Mercari, Yahoo! Auction, Yahoo! Flea Market, and Rakuten Rakuma to temporarily prohibit the resale of the console. “We have agreed to cooperate to prevent fraudulent listing of our products, including Nintendo Switch 2,” the message reads. This measure will be in effect starting June 5 to curb speculation in the immediate aftermath of the console’s launch. The block will be lifted later, though an exact date has yet to be announced.

Why Japan’s Marketplace Giants are Joining the Fight

Yahoo! Japan’s website elaborated further, calling the Nintendo Switch 2 a product that “may cause disruption to the retail environment.” The company sees it as a device that “has a high level of attention and is in high demand as a high-value resale product,” which could result in “hoarding and price gouging.” The new system will automatically remove listings attempting to profit from the console and penalize those responsible.

Nintendo has been preparing for months to fight back against scalping. In February, it announced plans to produce large quantities of the Switch 2 to meet early demand. But demand has already surged in Japan, and Nintendo has warned that many players won’t receive the console on day one. That’s why the Kyoto-based company is doubling down with this new alliance, aiming to stop price-gouging practices that typically arise during periods of low stock.

Source: 3djuegos