Nintendo drops 50-hour playtime rule for Switch 2 in Japan

Nintendo removed the 50-hour Nintendo Account playtime requirement for Switch 2 purchases on the My Nintendo Store in Japan and limited sales to one unit per customer as sales spiked ahead of a scheduled price increase.

The previous policy required customers to have accumulated at least 50 hours of playtime on a Nintendo Switch linked to their Nintendo Account to be eligible to buy the new console during periods of increased demand. Nintendo eliminated that threshold for purchases through its Japanese online store but retained the one-per-customer limit to restrict bulk purchases while inventory is constrained.

Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa apologized for shortages in Japan and indicated the company will expand retail availability, adding that more stores will carry the device over time. The company did not provide a timeline for wider distribution, release sales figures, or state how long the one-per-customer limit will remain in effect.

The change applies only to the My Nintendo Store in Japan. It follows strong consumer interest in the Switch 2 since its launch and reports of limited stock at some outlets.