Secondhand Nintendo Switch 2 Deals Could Soon Spell Trouble for Filipino Gamers
Hunting for a cheaper Nintendo Switch 2? Hold your Poké Balls, Filipino gamers might want to think twice before buying one secondhand.
The Switch 2 has only been out for a short while, but gamers abroad are already warning about a nasty surprise: used units that get banned and can’t go online at all. And this headache might hit the Philippines sooner than we think, given how rampant game piracy has been here since the days of the Super Famicom and PlayStation 1.
One early buyer overseas thought they’d scored a steal by grabbing a secondhand Switch 2 at a small discount. Instead, they ended up staring at an “Error Code: 2124-4508” during setup, which instantly cut off access to Nintendo’s online services. That basically turns the console into an overpriced offline toy.
Found one. Didn't end well.
byu/Bimmytung inswitch2
Nintendo has been banning consoles caught using MiG Switch carts, which people use to run pirated games or backups. It doesn’t matter if someone bought the games legally, once Nintendo detects a cart like this, the ban hammer drops with no way to fix it.
The big worry for Filipino gamers is that piracy is still alive and well here. Some local resellers might offload banned Switch 2 units to unsuspecting buyers looking for a “great deal.” These aren’t always imported; they could come straight from local players who got caught and want to pass the problem to someone else.
So how do you protect your hard-earned money? If you really must buy a secondhand Switch 2, always test it first. Make sure it connects to Nintendo’s online services before paying a single peso. Buying from strangers online is especially risky, a banned console won’t get you a refund.
Right now, a brand-new Switch 2 sells for about Php 32,000 for just the console, or Php 35,000 if you want the Mario Kart World bundle. Just remember, that bundle includes a download code, so if you buy it secondhand, the code might already be redeemed.
To avoid headaches, it’s smarter to wait for official restocks at trusted stores. Better safe than sorry, no one wants to end up with a fancy paperweight.
Image via Scattered Brain
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