Nintendo Drops the 50-Hour Playtime Rule for Switch 2 Purchases in Japan

If you have been struggling to grab a Nintendo Switch 2 preorder in Japan, the good news is that things just got a little easier. Over on X, Nintendo today confirmed that it has updated the purchase requirements for the console on the My Nintendo Store, scrapping one major restriction.

Up until now, Switch 2 buyers needed at least 50 hours of Nintendo Switch gameplay linked to their Nintendo Account before even becoming eligible to purchase the system. Notably, demo games and free-to-play titles did not count toward that requirement either.

The ease in restriction comes after Switch 2 price hike announcement

As part of this change, starting May 25, Nintendo is officially removing that playtime restriction from both the “Nintendo Switch 2 Japanese/Domestic Version” and the “Nintendo Switch 2 Multilingual Version.” In simple words, users no longer need proof they actively played on Switch before trying to buy the new console.

That said, Nintendo is still keeping purchase quantity limits in place. Each Nintendo Account can only buy one Japanese version and one multilingual version of the system. Interestingly, Nintendo also clarified that previous lottery sales and invitation-based purchases still count toward those limits.

Nintendo still warns restrictions could change again

The timing here is interesting because demand for Switch 2 continues looking absolutely massive in Japan. Nintendo does not exactly say why it removed the playtime requirement, but it likely helps open sales to newer users who never heavily used the original Switch ecosystem. Not to mention, the company also wants players to easily purchase the Switch 2 even at its hiked price.

Nintendo has specifically warned that purchase conditions and buying limits may still change depending on future sales conditions. Users will still need to sign into a Nintendo Account before purchasing through the My Nintendo Store.

Overall, this feels like Nintendo slowly relaxing its anti-scalping measures as Switch 2 availability improves, although actually securing one still probably will not be easy anytime soon.