Nintendo’s Switch 2 preorder process has strict requirements to thwart scalpers

You can purchase a Switch 2 directly from Nintendo, but only if you have at least 50 hours of gameplay on the original console.

If you want to preorder a Switch directly from Nintendo, you’ll need to make sure you have at least 50 hours of gameplay on the original Switch as of April 2nd, 2025. Nintendo revealed the anti-scalper mechanism on its preorder registration page, where it says it will prioritize registrants who meet the gameplay requirements and have purchased at least a 12-month Switch Online membership.

For Nintendo to track your gameplay hours, you’ll need to have opted in to share gameplay data with Nintendo. You can check if you opted in by logging in to your Nintendo account and checking your privacy settings.

Nintendo says it will send out its first round of preorder invites on May 8th, 2025, “with additional batches of invitation email sent periodically until purchasing on My Nintendo Store is opened to everyone.” When you receive an email, you’ll have 72 hours to preorder the Switch 2. Preorders at participating retailers will open to everyone on April 9th in North America or on April 8th in Europe.