Report: Nintendo Switch 2 Allegedly Sold on Black Market for $40,000

A Chinese leaker, known for sharing CAD images of the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, is now claiming to have an actual working unit up for grabs. According to buzz on Reddit, this enigmatic figure is allegedly offering the yet-to-be-released console to an accessory manufacturer for the hefty price tag of around $39,800.

The leaked design, found in those CAD files, seems to have inspired accessory makers like Dbrand and others ahead of the Switch 2’s official reveal. The leaker appears to be quite a credible source since the design shown in the console’s reveal video perfectly aligns with what was leaked. Still, it’s wise to maintain a bit of skepticism and not take everything at face value.

Over on Xiaohongshu forums, the leaker informed a potential buyer about the opportunity to tinker with the Switch 2’s dock, joystick, and tablet. Interestingly, he mentioned that Pro controllers might hit the market as soon as the following week, hinting at Nintendo’s next step after the Switch Pro controllers.

A fascinating tidbit from Reddit includes a screenshot of the leaker’s DMs with a black market vendor, showing the exact price for the Switch 2 dock, joycons, and tablet listed at nearly $39,780. So, the question remains: Will this buyer take the plunge for a sneak peek of the Switch 2 way before its launch? The answer may hinge on the potential financial windfall from such an exclusive early look. Being ahead of the curve could be incredibly advantageous for both legitimate and not-so-legitimate accessory creators aiming to craft compatible products.

Handling such cash-laden transactions on the black market, our CAD leaker is likely anticipating generous compensation from any unofficial accessory producer vying for an early session with this highly coveted hardware.

As it stands, the only allure of a pre-release Nintendo Switch 2 is the prospect of ahead-of-time development. Games optimized for Switch 2 will likely need special patches, much like previous generational upgrades. Yet, actual Switch 2 games won’t surface until the console gets closer to its official launch. If this new system runs with the same operating system straight out of the box, this whole scenario seems to open doors for potential exploits or early developments.

We can only hope for Nintendo to announce a solid release date soon. It’d be quite amusing if they pushed the launch so far into the future that the early purchase ends up being a moot point.