Nintendo has temporarily suspended sales of the multilingual Switch 2 in Japan after detecting what it believes is organised hoarding, and slapped new conditions on who can buy one. As of 12 June 2026, customers must have at least 50 hours of play time on the original Switch, logged by the end of 31 May, and are limited to one console per Nintendo account, a clampdown driven by a weak yen that has made the Japanese unit cheaper than Switch 2 consoles abroad.

Why Nintendo Halted Multilingual Switch 2 Sales

Nintendo said it acted after spotting a wave of suspicious orders on its own store. “We temporarily suspended sales of the Nintendo Switch 2 (multilingual support) on the Nintendo Store after confirming several orders that appeared to be hoarding,” the company said. In a fuller statement posted to social media, it added: “To ensure we can deliver the product to as many customers as possible, we will now limit sales to customers who meet the following conditions.” Those conditions are 50 or more hours of play time on the original Switch as of the end of May, and a cap of one Switch 2 per Nintendo account.

Nintendo StoreにおけるNintendo Switch 2（多言語対応）の販売につきまして、買い占め等の疑いがある注文を複数確認しましたので、一時的に販売を停止しておりました。…

— 任天堂株式会社 (@Nintendo) June 11, 2026

Japan’s Two Switch 2 Versions

Unlike other regions, Japan has two distinct Switch 2 models. A Japanese, domestic-only version is sold widely through general retailers, while a multilingual version, which behaves like Switch 2 hardware everywhere else in the world, can only be bought directly from Nintendo on its online store. It is that multilingual model whose sales have been suspended and gated.

The Yen, Scalping and a September Price Rise

The likely driver of the hoarding is currency. After a recent price increase the domestic version rose from ¥49,980 ($310) to ¥59,980 ($375), while the multilingual version held at ¥69,980 ($435), and the weak yen leaves that multilingual unit cheaper than a Switch 2 bought overseas. The gap is about to widen: from 1 September, the price of a Switch 2 in the United States rises from $449 to $499, which would leave the Japanese multilingual model around $65 cheaper at current exchange rates. Nintendo has attributed its price increases to “changes in market conditions” and its “global business outlook,” and every major console maker has announced increases in recent months amid global supply shortages and other pressures.

Nintendo has not said when unrestricted multilingual sales will resume, and with the US price rise landing on 1 September the incentive for cross-border buying, and the scalping it has fuelled, is only set to grow.

The post Nintendo Suspends Multilingual Switch 2 Sales in Japan After Hoarding, Adds 50-Hour Gate appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The price of the PlayStation 6 is already being questioned, and it hasn’t even been officially revealed yet.

Following Sony’s latest PlayStation 5 price hikes, multiple industry analysts are now warning that the next generation of consoles, including Xbox’s rumoured Xbox Project Helix, could launch at significantly higher prices, potentially reaching or even exceeding $999 USD.

PS5 Price Hike Sets The Tone For Next-Gen

Sony recently increased pricing across its PS5 lineup, with the PS5 Pro now sitting at $899.99 USD. That alone puts it dangerously close to four-figure territory, something that felt unthinkable just a few years ago.

According to reporting from GamesRadar+, analysts believe this move isn’t just a short-term adjustment. It may be laying the groundwork for how expensive the next generation will be.

Circana analyst Mat Piscatella noted the scale of the increase was larger than expected, highlighting just how volatile the current market has become.

Analysts Predict A 50 Percent Price Jump

Several experts now expect the PS6 and its Xbox counterpart to launch at around 50 percent higher than their predecessors.

Industry researcher Joost van Dreunen points to a combination of economic pressures, including tariffs, supply chain disruption, and a massive spike in memory costs. DRAM and NAND prices alone have reportedly surged between 80 to 90 percent since the start of 2026.

Van Dreunen believes the industry is “quickly moving towards a world in which a $1,000 console will be the norm”, suggesting gaming hardware is shifting further into luxury territory.

That prediction is echoed by Dr. Serkan Toto, who says a $999 price point for at least one PS6 variant is “not impossible”.

Why Console Prices Are Rising So Fast

The rising cost of consoles isn’t happening in isolation. Multiple overlapping factors are driving prices upward at the same time.

Manufacturing components have become more expensive, partly due to AI-driven demand for data centre hardware competing for the same resources. At the same time, geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions across parts of Asia are making production and distribution more difficult.

There’s also the reality of how console business models work. Hardware is often sold at slim margins or even at a loss, with companies relying on software sales to make money later. As costs increase, that balancing act becomes harder to maintain without raising upfront prices.

Sony’s Strategy Suggests Long-Term Planning

Some analysts believe Sony’s recent price increase may actually be a strategic move rather than a reactive one.

Dr. Toto suggests the company could be “baking in” future economic uncertainty now, opting for one larger price jump instead of multiple smaller increases over time. This approach also gives Sony room to reduce prices later or offer discounts if conditions improve.

It’s a way of managing expectations early, especially as the industry edges closer to announcing the next wave of hardware.

Timing And Pricing Still Far From Certain

Despite the bold predictions, there’s still a lot of uncertainty around both pricing and release timing.

Piscatella cautions that everything is still in flux, from when the PS6 might launch to how much it will actually cost. While some reports suggest a potential 2027 release window, nothing has been confirmed, and ongoing economic instability could push timelines further out.

Even if manufacturers delay, there’s no guarantee costs will drop. Contracts, supply commitments, and continued demand for high-end components could keep prices elevated regardless of timing.

A Future Where Consoles Become Premium Hardware

What’s becoming clear is that the traditional idea of consoles as the affordable entry point into gaming may be shifting.

If predictions hold, next-gen systems like the PS6 and Xbox Project Helix could move closer to premium, high-end devices, narrowing the gap between console and PC gaming costs.

That doesn’t mean cheaper options will disappear entirely, but flagship hardware may increasingly target players willing to invest more upfront.

With the industry heading toward its next big transition, the real question isn’t just when the PS6 will arrive, but how much gamers will be willing, or able, to pay when it does.

The post PS6 Price Could Hit $999 As Analysts Warn Of Next-Gen Cost Surge appeared first on Shane the Gamer.