Switch 2 Already Selling for Over £600 on eBay — And It Hasn’t Even Launched Yet

It hasn’t even hit store shelves yet, but the Nintendo Switch 2 is already showing up where all hyped, understocked tech inevitably lands: eBay, the digital Wild West of inflated price tags and questionable ethics. Just days after Nintendo revealed the Switch 2’s juicy launch details—including that oh-so-nostalgic Mario Kart World bundle—the internet did what the internet does best. Within minutes of pre-orders going live, stock evaporated faster than a Fire Flower under Bowser’s boot. Retailers like Argos waved the white flag almost immediately, with notices reading: “Sorry, this item is just too popular!” No kidding.

And like clockwork, resellers began flooding eBay with listings of the very same console—just now conveniently priced £150 to £250 above the recommended retail price.

Let’s Talk Numbers (And Eye-Watering Markups)

Nintendo priced the standard Switch 2 at £395.99, or £429.99 if you’re grabbing the version that comes bundled with Mario Kart World. But over on eBay, some listings are already climbing past £600, with completed sales confirming that people are actually buying them at those inflated prices. One Switch 2 + Mario Kart bundle sold for £634.02—a full £204 over retail. Even the console alone (sans kart-racing chaos) fetched £554.45 in another completed sale. So if you’re wondering whether scalping is still alive and well in 2025: Yes. Yes, it is. It’s thriving.

Nintendo’s Attempt at Damage Control

To be fair, Nintendo is trying to curb the madness this time around. Unlike in previous console launches where stock disappeared in under five seconds and was snatched up by bot-powered scalpers, Nintendo UK introduced an invite-only pre-order system via their official store. The goal? Limit scalping by giving selected customers early access to pre-orders, one per account. It’s essentially a velvet rope around the online checkout button—except instead of a nightclub, it’s a digital line for nerds with coins to spare.

Emails for this invite-only system have already started landing in inboxes. If you were one of the chosen few: congrats! If not, you might be stuck refreshing eBay and considering whether your savings account is really that important.

Why Is This Always a Thing?

We’ve seen this before. PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Steam Deck, and even Amiibo figures at one point. If it’s shiny, limited, and launches with Zelda or Mario on the box, you can bet someone’s flipping it on eBay for profit. But part of what makes this round sting a little more is how well Nintendo handled the actual reveal this time. They gave a clear launch date (June 5), listed dozens of launch and upcoming titles, offered multiple buying options, and even baked in some bonus features and Switch 2 Editions of fan-favorite games. It was shaping up to be a smoother ride—until the resale market said, “Hold my Rupees.”

Will Prices Come Down?

Maybe. Probably. Eventually.

If you’ve got nerves of steel and the patience of a Hyrule shrine puzzle, it might be worth waiting until closer to launch day. Restocks are inevitable, and Nintendo is known for rolling out waves of consoles even after the initial batch disappears. Plus, scalpers can’t hold onto that stock forever—especially if consumer backlash builds and they’re left with £600 consoles nobody wants to buy at a premium. But if you’re desperate to be part of the day-one excitement, you might have to make a tough choice between feeding the scalpers or playing the long game.

What About US Pre-Orders?

Adding fuel to the international fire, Nintendo has delayed US Switch 2 pre-orders altogether, citing tariffs and shifting market conditions. This, naturally, has sparked speculation that the US market might be hit even harder by scalpers once the gates finally open. With US fans still waiting for their chance to pre-order, it wouldn’t be surprising to see similar eBay shenanigans popping up stateside soon—maybe with even steeper price hikes, depending on how limited the first wave of stock ends up being.

What You Can Do (Besides Cry)

• Trust Nintendo (kinda). History says they’ll restock. The Wii U might’ve been a flop, but the original Switch wasn’t hard to find a few months after launch.
• Hold the line. If enough people resist buying from scalpers, those prices will crash faster than a Joy-Con with drift.
• Sign up for alerts. Use stock trackers, Discord servers, and retailer notifications to stay ahead of the next pre-order wave.
• Go digital. The Switch 2 will also be available digitally via official retailers—though not everyone wants to miss out on that physical console packaging (we get it).