The Nintendo Switch 2 console officially launched in the United States on June 5 at midnight. But even hours before the console was handed over to early shoppers at midnight launch parties, we identified more than 100 eBay listings for the Switch 2.

So, how did eBay sellers list the Switch 2 for sale before they actually possessed the physical device?

Many U.S.-based sellers are only promising to sell the console after their "confirmed preorder" arrives. Some sellers are using alleged screenshots of Walmart and Target preorder confirmation pages or shipping tracking details. And now that launch day has arrived, we are seeing the first genuine listings for Switch 2 consoles on eBay. I know these listings can be tempting, but as Mashable's Tech Editor, I recommend purchasing through the retailers themselves.

We reached out to eBay to ask if the pre-launch Switch 2 eBay listings violated any of their policies, and a company representative confirmed that listings like this do not violate eBay’s Presale Policy. While eBay does have a price gouging policy, it only applies to essential items, not video game consoles. If you do purchase a Switch 2 from eBay, check the seller's reviews first. If something does go wrong, eBay sales are covered under the company's Money Back Guarantee.

Nintendo expects to sell 20 million Switch 2 units in the next year, but preorders have been very hard to come by for many gamers. (Check the latest stock ahead of the launch.) Post-launch, the console is still listed as "Out of stock" at most retailers. Still, don't give the hoarders and price gougers what they want.

Most eBay listings for the console are priced between $650 and $750, which is a lot to ask considering that most of these sellers don't even have the console in hand yet. Remember, even gamers with confirmed preorders may still have to wait days or weeks for their console to arrive.

Credit: GameStop

Nintendo has actually taken steps to discourage this type of opportunism — at least, in Japan. In Nintendo's home country, the game company is working directly with third-party seller platforms like Mercari and Rakuten to ban Switch 2 listings after the launch, according to The Verge. Unfortunately, those plans don't include the United States.

I would be extremely skeptical of these listings, at least for now. The only Switch 2 units we know for certain have been delivered so far are review units, like the one received by Mashable earlier today.

So, while you can try your luck on eBay listings, we recommend exercising a little patience. Hopefully, once the console officially launches, retailers will have a steadier inventory available for sale. Plus, we never want to encourage hoarding and price gouging.

Where else can you buy a Switch 2 online?

In the meantime, keep checking Nintendo and its official Switch 2 retailers to see if they have the console in stock yet:

UPDATE: Jun. 5, 2025, 12:11 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with more details about the Switch 2 launch; it was previously updated with a response from an eBay representative.