{"id":43631,"date":"2025-02-03T15:09:28","date_gmt":"2025-02-03T06:09:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/?p=43631"},"modified":"2025-02-03T16:54:08","modified_gmt":"2025-02-03T07:54:08","slug":"nintendos-restriction-on-overseas-credit-cards-lauded-in-japan-as-possible-anti-scalping-measure-ahead-of-switch-2-launch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/nintendos-restriction-on-overseas-credit-cards-lauded-in-japan-as-possible-anti-scalping-measure-ahead-of-switch-2-launch\/","title":{"rendered":"Nintendo\u2019s restriction on overseas credit cards lauded in Japan as possible anti-scalping measure ahead of Switch 2\u00a0launch"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Last week, Nintendo announced<\/a> that the Japanese My Nintendo Store and eShop will stop accepting payment via overseas-issued credit cards and foreign PayPal accounts staring March 25. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This came as bad news for many gamers outside of Japan who rely on the Japanese store to buy games unavailable in their regions \u2013 or any games, if their country (like Taiwan) doesn\u2019t have its own store. On the other hand, Nintendo\u2019s decision has been met with a fair deal of approval from users and media in Japan, as people see it as a possible measure to curb scalping of the Nintendo Switch 2. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Japanese<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nintendo did not go into detail about the new restrictions, only stating that they are meant to \u201cprevent fraudulent use.\u201d However, with the Japanese yen still so weak against other currencies, chances of the Switch 2 being priced regionally to account for the difference are high, so \u201cit\u2019s easy to imagine that some consumers from overseas will consider making their purchase in Japan,\u201d Kai-You<\/a> reports. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During Nintendo\u2019s 84th annual shareholders meeting<\/a> (held in June 2024), Nintendo\u2019s CEO Shuntaro Furukawa mentioned that the company would be \u201ctaking into account circumstances in each region and considering what measures [against scalping] can be taken within the limits permitted by law.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given these circumstances (and the approaching release of the Nintendo Switch 2), Japanese users believe that by blocking payment from overseas, Nintendo is trying to prevent scalpers from abroad (China, for example) from comparing prices and importing hardware meant for the Japanese market. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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