Summary:
- Switch 2 sold out quickly, leading to restock problems and lack of available units for many customers worldwide.
- Unofficial sellers are marking up retail value, with some listing consoles for over $200 above the original retail price.
- Nintendo is fighting scalpers by limiting pre-orders, implementing purchase rules, and promising steady restocks through 2025.
- Gamers are advised to avoid overpriced listings by using stock alerts, checking official retailers often, and waiting for bundle deals.
The Nintendo Switch 2 launched on June 5 2025, quickly became the fastest-selling console in history. It had around 3.5 million units sold in just four days. But, the hype around the release has also led to more issues. Mainly, the console keeps needing restocks, and charged amounts are being marked up by unofficial sellers.
High Demand, Low Supply of Switch 2
The Switch 2’s launch was huge. Stores in the U.S., Japan, and Europe quickly ran out of stock as thousands of gamers lined up or waited online to get one. Also, Pre-orders vanished fast, and even on launch day, most major retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and GameStop had limited or no stocks.
The producers did prepare a large amount of restocks ahead of launch, even moving some production away from China to avoid issues. But despite those efforts, they couldn’t meet the demand of the fans.
Unauthorized Sellers Take Advantage
Because the Switch 2 is so hard to find, many people turned to online unofficial sellers. Unfortunately, this gave scalpers and resellers an opportunity to raise prices way above the official price.
For example, the standard Switch 2, which should cost around $449, is being sold for $672 by some sellers on Walmart’s outside marketplace. The popular Mario Kart bundle, priced at $499, has been listed for $749 on sites like eBay and Amazon Marketplace.
Due to this, many fans are being forced to either wait longer or pay more just to get the console.
What Fans Can Do For Now
Nintendo is aware of the problem and has taken several steps to stop scalpers. For example:
- They made buyers link their accounts to pre-order.
- In Japan, Nintendo set strict rules on how many consoles a person can buy.
- They worked with stores to detect and block bots or suspicious orders.
These efforts did help reduce the scalping for a short time. Resale value on sites like StockX dropped a bit after launch due to high transaction fees and competition among resellers. Still, mark-ups are high, and fans are hoping they can deliver more units soon to push the amount back to normal.
However, If you’re still looking for a Switch 2 and want to avoid paying too much, let’s take a look on different ways how:
- Sign up for restock alerts on sites like Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and Nintendo’s own website.
- Check early in the morning, when many stores drop fresh stock online.
- Avoid unofficial sellers unless the price is close to retail.
- Look for bundles since some offer better value with extra accessories or games.
Most experts believe that retail will stabilize once more production starts, especially since it’s closer to the holiday season and major events like Father’s Day.
Conclusion
Overall, The Nintendo Switch 2 has had a ground-breaking launch, but its popularity has caused serious supply and demand issues. Also, limited restocks have led to high price mark-ups from resellers, disappointing fans who just want to enjoy the new console at a fair price. As Nintendo is working on getting more stock to stores and fighting scalpers, the situation remains uncertain. In short, gamers are advised to be patient, watch for official restocks, and avoid buying through third-party sellers.
