In Russia, they started deceiving users of the Nintendo Switch 2

The popularity of the Nintendo Switch 2 attracts scammers, and among the firmware specialists of the first generation of the console, a feature has appeared to unlock the GameChat voice chat. This important feature remains unavailable even when changing the region: it requires phone confirmation, while numbers with the Russian code +7 or virtual +888 are prohibited.

Everything is off: Russians won't get access to five features of the Nintendo Switch 2

What limitations will buyers face in the work of the new product?

"It doesn't work in our country, not because of sanctions, but because Nintendo cannot comply with the requirements of Russian legislation related to restrictions on calls in instant messengers and IP telephony applications," Yasha Haddazi, CEO of Achivka, an importer of video games and consoles, told Izvestia.

Unofficial shops specializing in flashing old Switch models offer paid verification of the number for using GameChat. At the same time, several gamers can be registered to one number (for example, in Slovakia), which is used by scammers.

"Nintendo is monitoring suspicious activity (multiple accounts with the same IP address, VPN, gray payments). When checking complaints, voice sessions are analyzed, which can lead to account blocking," said Igor Bederov, founder of the Russian Internet Search company, head of the information and analytical research department at T.Hunter.

Read more in the exclusive Izvestia article:

Fatal firmware: a new scheme to deceive users of the Nintendo Switch 2 has appeared in the Russian Federation