The Switch 2, which is not yet available on the Chinese mainland market, is being sold in large quantities on e-commerce platforms.

Nintendo's gaming console, "Nintendo Switch 2"

It is speculated that Chinese e-commerce companies and others purchase the Hong Kong version of the Switch 2 from Hong Kong and sell it on the Chinese mainland. On platforms such as JD.com and Taobao, the price is mostly over 4,000 RMB, generally higher than the price of the multi-language version sold in Hong Kong and Japan. When Nikkei asked JD.com whether there were any problems with selling the Switch 2 on the Chinese mainland, it did not receive a response...

The Nintendo gaming console "Nintendo Switch 2" was originally not available for sale on the Chinese mainland, but now it can be purchased. The Hong Kong version is available on multiple large e-commerce platforms. It is speculated that e-commerce companies purchase the consoles from Hong Kong and conduct retail sales on the mainland.

The Switch 2 is sold on large e-commerce platforms such as JD.com and Taobao, and the price is mostly over 4,000 RMB. Compared with the price in Hong Kong and the multi-language version sold in Japan (the official recommended retail price is 69,980 yen, approximately 3,462 RMB), the price is generally higher.

Nintendo explained that "the Switch 2 is not yet on sale on the Chinese mainland. In Hong Kong, official sales are carried out through a subsidiary." It seems that game software can also be experienced by purchasing the Hong Kong version.

According to the official social media account of JD.com, the Switch 2 was launched on June 5, in sync with global sales. The social media post said that this was "the first batch of goods authorized by Nintendo officially."

Wang Xu, the chief analyst of Chinese research firm Gamma Data, analyzed the Switch 2 and said that "there is still room for growth on the Chinese mainland. Although the number of console enthusiasts on the mainland is limited, the enthusiasm is high, and consumers are willing to pay a premium for the imported version."

When Nikkei asked JD.com whether there were any problems with selling the Switch 2 on the Chinese mainland, it did not receive a response. The Chinese mainland has regulations on the review of game software content, and it can only be released after it is confirmed that it has no adverse impact on society.

The Hong Kong version of the Switch 2 available on the mainland also seems expensive compared with the US price of $449.99 (approximately 3,231 RMB). Wang Xu pointed out that "if the mainland version of the console is absent for a long time, it may lead to the emergence of a large number of cheap pirated copies."

The first-generation Switch was sold on the Chinese mainland by Tencent Holdings. On the Chinese mainland, mobile games are the mainstream, and Tencent has also made significant investments in this area. When asked whether Tencent Holdings was involved in the sale of the Hong Kong version of the Switch 2 on the mainland, the company did not give a direct response.

This article is from the WeChat official account "Nikkei Chinese Net" (ID: rijingzhongwenwang). The authors are Fujino Itsuro and Shimokawa Marie. It is published by 36Kr with authorization.