Overseas versions of Switch game consoles are being removed from shelves in large numbers. Netizens: Buy early and enjoy early

Recently, a netizen posted on Weibo that many domestic e-commerce platforms have removed overseas versions of Switch game consoles and game cards. On the morning of March 31, #Overseas versions of Switch game consoles have been removed from the shelves in large numbers # became a hot topic on Weibo.

Some netizens have discovered that a large number of stores on Taobao have removed the overseas versions of the Switch console, including the steel version, Japanese version, American version, European version, and many other overseas versions. According to Taobao stores, they are currently checking all stores that sell non-Guoxing versions of the Switch , and require all related stores to prohibit the sale of all Nintendo's overseas game electronic products.

In addition to game consoles, this "delisting wave" also involves overseas versions of physical games. The overseas versions of PS5 and Xbox Series X/S have also been removed from the shelves. Some people say that it is likely that overseas game products and equipment will not be available in China in the future, so the sooner you buy them, the sooner you can enjoy them.

Currently, when searching for categories of game consoles such as Switch on domestic e-commerce platforms , almost all of the results are domestic versions. In Pinduoduo's 10 billion subsidy column, the 3A masterpiece "Monster Hunter Rise", which was recently used as a traffic-generating tool by the official, has disappeared. Even if you search for keywords such as " Switch " or " Switch cartridge ", all of the results are related to the domestic version.

However, on platforms such as Taobao and JD.com, some self-operated imported stores that have obtained customs bonded imports through legal channels still sell Japanese versions of consoles and games, but the selling prices are much higher than the previous market price.

Some industry insiders said that this may be because some overseas versions of games are suspected of smuggling and other illegal activities. Many overseas versions of game consoles are packaged into parts, shipped to the country in various ways, and then assembled and sold.

According to current laws in my country, these foreign games can only be launched, operated and sold in the domestic market after obtaining approval number for relevant game publishing and operation from the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television.

In fact, the approval process for game licenses is very cumbersome and time-consuming, and the number of games sold in China for the three major consoles is far lower than that for overseas versions. According to the latest data released by Tencent, the Chinese agent for Nintendo Switch, as of December 31, 2020, more than 1 million Chinese-made Switch consoles have been sold in China, but only a dozen Chinese-made Switch games have been released.

The lack of 3A masterpieces has made domestic players lose interest in Guoxing game consoles. As a result, many cross-border import e-commerce sellers have chosen to take risks and opened up a gray area for the overseas version of Switch. This "removal wave" is probably one of the manifestations of concentrated rectification of this chaos.

import

Cross-border e-commerce market

Game consoles