Nintendo's Anti-Scalper Measures Hit Japan, With Yahoo Auctions Banning All Switch 2 Console Listings

With the demand for the Switch 2 console far exceeding supply, Nintendo has announced it is working with three of Japan’s major online marketplaces to tackle Switch 2 resales. Restrictions vary depending on the marketplace, but Yahoo Auctions/Yahoo Flea Market has gone so far as to ban all Switch 2 console listings for the foreseeable future.

According to Nintendo Japan’s official statement, the video game giant is collaborating with Mercari Inc., Yahoo Line Corporation and Rakuten Group Inc. to prevent fraudulent listings of the Switch 2 and other Nintendo products. These restrictions cover Mercari, Yahoo Auctions/Yahoo Flea Market, and Rakuten Rakuma- basically the big three online marketplaces in Japan on which individuals and businesses can resell second-hand products.

Yahoo is the strictest of the three, announcing a ban on all listings of Switch 2 consoles, which will come into effect on the console’s release date, June 5. This ban applies across both Japan’s Yahoo Auctions and Yahoo Flea Market. Violators will have the listing(s) deleted or could even face account suspension. At the time of writing, the end date for the ban is “undecided” and will be announced by Yahoo at a later date. This Switch 2 ban falls under Yahoo’s “prohibited items” article which states that the resale of items in high-demand and with high resale value may be banned if they are deemed to promote behaviors that “cause confusion” — such as price gouging and hoarding of stock.

Rakuten Rakuma, on the other hand, has issued a statement prohibiting listing Switch 2 and related products, but only before the release date — reminding its users that it is against Rakuten Rakuma’s policies to list items that you do not have on hand and don’t know the exact condition of.

Mercari’s statement was a bit more vague. According to the press release, it has agreed to share information with Nintendo and “strengthen measures to remove specific products that violate the Mercari guidelines.” For example, from March 2025, Mercari has required ID verification from users listing high value products, and this will be applied to those selling Switch 2s.

In Japan, over 2.2 million people entered My Nintendo Store’s first official lottery to purchase a launch-day Switch 2, far exceeding both Nintendo’s expectations and initial supply. Hype for the new console has already been exploited by scammers sending fake Switch 2 lottery winner emails, leading Nintendo to warn against such fraudulent attempts to obtain payment and personal details. It seems that with this latest collaboration with Japan’s online marketplaces, Nintendo is taking steps to prevent fake Switch 2 listings and price gouging.

Verity Townsend is a Japan-based freelance writer who previously served as editor, contributor and translator for the game news site Automaton West. She has also written about Japanese culture and movies for various publications.