Nintendo has introduced measures to limit the multi-language capabilities of the Switch 2 in Japan as a strategy to deter scalpers

Nintendo has imposed limitations on the purchase of the Switch 2 version featuring multiple languages within Japan.

In the face of planned price hikes in regions such as the US, Canada, and Europe, Nintendo has observed that resellers are exploiting the weaker yen for profit.

Through an announcement on social media (via machine translation), Nintendo has shared its decision to temporarily halt sales and establish new purchasing guidelines for the multi-language version of the console in Japan.

The company plans to restrict each account to acquiring one console, with the additional requirement that purchasers must log at least 50 hours of gameplay on a Switch by May 2026.

This measure echoes strategies used during last June's launch, when buyers in the US, Canada, and the UK needed a two-year Nintendo Switch Online subscription and a minimum of 50 hours of playtime, aimed at prioritizing loyal players.

Last month, Nintendo revealed increases in hardware costs, subsequently citing market conditions as justification.

President Shuntaro Furukawa acknowledged that "the recent surge in memory and other component prices [...] along with currency exchange and oil price trends" are considerations that may have lasting effects.

He expressed concern that maintaining the current pricing might drastically reduce the profitability of their hardware, which could negatively impact overall business operations over time.

Additionally, Furukawa emphasized that Nintendo is committed to readying itself to manage any forthcoming challenges effectively.