As with anything in the gaming industry, news about Nintendo’s upcoming Switch 2 console caused the industry to instantly put it up for sale on eBay. Although the official worldwide launch date for the console is 5th June 2025, and the retail price is £395.99 for the device or £429.99 with the Mario Kart upgrade, the console is currently being scalped for more than £600. The bundle achieved one completed sale at £634.02, which is £204.03 more than the normal cost.

Resale prices are on the rise after the rapid sell-out of pre-orders with retailers like Argos and Smyths. Nintendo has taken steps to combat scalping by opening up pre-orders to its store, but demand is always higher than the supply. Even in the U.S., the secondary market was fuelled by delayed pre-orders for considerations like tariffs.

Compared to its predecessor, Switch 2 comes with some improvements, including a bigger screen, a more powerful processor, and games like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bonanza that are exclusive to it. However, none of these upgrades have done much to quiet consumer interest, and because of that, the console has become a prime target for resellers.​

Meanwhile, Nintendo has said that it has resolved previous component shortage issues and is in the process of meeting global demand. Instead, pre-orders in the current state and the vast number of inflated eBay listings suggest that many consumers will be unable to obtain the console at its advertised price.​

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