Nintendo's new console game, 'Nintendo Switch 2,' has seen a shortage immediately after its domestic launch, causing it to be traded at a premium on secondhand transaction platforms. Despite the controversy over high pricing, demand far exceeds supply, leading some products to sell for more than 10% above the retail price.
According to the gaming industry on the 9th, the Switch 2 is being traded on secondhand transaction platforms for about 750,000 won. This is approximately 10% higher than the retail price of 648,000 won. The retail price of the bundle product, which includes the launching title 'Mario Kart World,' is 688,000 won. Considering that the domestic price of the previous model, the Nintendo Switch, released in 2017, was 360,000 won, the price of the successor model has nearly doubled.
However, the problem lies not just in simple price increases but in supply shortages. During pre-orders and lottery sales, Nintendo Korea and distributors allocated only a limited quantity, and reservations on the official website were allowed only for paid members of 'Nintendo Switch Online,' limiting accessibility. Although regular online shopping malls and offline distributors conducted lotteries without restrictions, the supply quantity is reported to have been extremely low.
As a result, some buyers are reselling the products secured through winning pre-orders on secondhand platforms to make a profit. Major transaction sites such as Junggonara list unopened new products for more than 700,000 won, and there are not a few instances leading to actual purchases.
In Japan, by April, 2.2 million people had flocked for pre-orders, and overseas, including the United States, purchasing lines formed in front of retail stores on the launch day. Last month, Nintendo predicted in its earnings announcement that it would sell 15 million units of the Switch 2 and 45 million units of dedicated game software by March next year.