Reports Claim Nintendo Switch 2 Selling on Black Market for $40,000

A recent leak from China, featuring CAD images of the anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, has taken an intriguing turn. The anonymous leaker has claimed possession of a working unit and is offering it to an accessory manufacturer for a hefty $39,800, according to discussions on Reddit.

Those CAD files seem to have been referenced by companies like Dbrand to produce pre-launch accessories for the upcoming Switch 2. Given that the console’s official design aligns with the leaked Dbrand accessories, it adds a layer of credibility to the source. However, readers are advised to maintain a healthy dose of skepticism until more official information surfaces.

The leaker, active on the Xiaohongshu forums, has been revealing interesting tidbits, mentioning that the buyer will have the opportunity to try out the Switch 2’s dock, joystick, and tablet. What’s more, he hinted at the upcoming availability of Pro controllers, which could be Nintendo’s new iteration of the Switch Pro peripheral.

In an interesting post shared on Reddit, the leaker illustrated a screenshot showing a chat with a seller from the black market, indicating the pricing for the Switch 2’s components like the dock, joy-cons, and tablet, totaling $39,780.

Whether this interested party will actually spend the cash for this exclusive early access hinges on potential profit margins. Having firsthand access to the Switch 2 could provide enormous advantages to companies making accessories, as they could get a jump start on developing compatible products.

Meanwhile, for such high-value tech, it’s likely the leaker might command substantial fees from unofficial accessory makers eager to analyze the hardware.

Although a working Switch 2 has no valuable content yet, it presents potentially lucrative opportunities for those looking to exploit its capabilities. Enhanced gaming experiences on the new console will likely require updates, but no dedicated Switch 2 games are expected until the official release draws near. However, the console itself might offer a playground for pre-release experimentation.

Here’s hoping Nintendo sheds some light on the official release date soon. It would be rather amusing if the launch turned out to be so distant that the leaker’s early sale became irrelevant by the time consumers could actually buy the console.

For now, as the gaming community waits eagerly, stakes and speculations run high. Keep an eye out for future updates, and meanwhile, make sure to subscribe to Tom’s Hardware to stay on top of all the latest buzz in the world of gaming.