Nintendo reserves the right to permanently banSwitch 2users from connecting to the internet using the console if they violate the console’s terms of service. Consoles left in this state are considered ‘bricked’, i.e. the device is no longer fully functional.
Nintendo usually employs this method to combat piracy or attempts to modify its hardware. These days, not being able to connect to online services is essentially a death sentence for a console, because users won’t be able to download updates or even the games themselves in some cases.
Be Very Careful Buying A Pre-Owned Switch 2
Unfortunately, as reported byAutomaton West, bricked consoles are already being sold in the second-hand market. A Reddit user namedBimmytungrecently bought a second-hand Switch 2 at Walmart, only to be met with the dreaded Error Code: 2124-4508 when they arrived home.
According to Nintendo, this error code indicates, “The console you are using has been permanently banned from connecting to the internet due to a breach of user agreements. A breach of user agreements may include, but is not limited to, activities such as: fraudulent or unauthorised transactions, violation of the code of conduct.”
Thankfully, the user was able to return the console to Walmart without any fuss. Still, if you’re buying a used Switch 2 from a less-than-official seller, ensure everything works before parting with your money. Also, consider why someone would be selling a Switch 2 so soon after release.
There have been reports of Switch 2’s being stolen while in transit. Each one of these consoles has a trackable serial number, which means Nintendo will most likely deactivate these consoles, too.
The resale market for the Nintendo Switch 2 will likely be fraught with similar stories for the foreseeable future, as people are eager to get their hands on the console. As more and more Switch 2’s flood the market over the coming months and years, the second-hand market will gradually stabilise.
Currently, Mario Kart World is the only Switch 2 exclusive released. Donkey Kong Bananza,likely the next platformer from the Super Mario Odyssey team, is set to release on July 17.
