Nintendo restricts Switch 2 sales in Japan to 50+ hour players

Nintendo’s Japan division has limited purchases of the multilingual Nintendo Switch 2 on the Nintendo Store in Japan to accounts that have logged at least 50 hours of play on the original Switch by 11:59 PM on May 31, 2026. The company also capped sales at one unit per Nintendo Account. Sales of the multilingual model were temporarily suspended while the new requirements were implemented.

A company notice said sales were paused after it identified multiple orders suspected of hoarding or similar activity and explained the new conditions are intended to allow more customers to obtain the console. The notice specifies that playtime from demo software and free titles does not count toward the 50-hour requirement. Eligibility is based on recorded playtime on the original Switch rather than account age or prior purchase history.

The restriction applies only to the multilingual Switch 2 sold through the Nintendo Store in Japan. The Japan-only Switch 2 variant remains available under the previous purchase conditions.

Nintendo also adjusted hardware and service pricing in Japan in May 2026 and plans to apply new Switch 2 pricing in Western markets starting in September 2026. As part of the May changes, the company raised the price of the original Switch hardware and increased the Switch Online subscription fee in Japan.

The company described the one-unit and playtime-based limits as measures to reduce bulk buying and scalping and to prioritise individual consumers in Japan while the restriction is in effect.