Hope Nobody Will…” – How a Russian Podcast Host Snagged a Nintendo Switch 2 for $800, Nine Days Before Launch

The scene: Moscow, 1:00 a.m. Fedor Volkov stands anxiously on a street corner, clutching a coveted Nintendo Switch 2 box. The console, years in the making and still over a week from its official June 5th release, is nestled inside. He’s forgotten a bag, his excitement and nerves overriding all else. “I am standing with a Switch 2 box, waiting for the taxi… And I’m like, hope nobody will…” Volkov trails off, laughing, during a Discord call, his Doom Slayer tattoo prominent and a “welcome to hell” t-shirt on display.

Volkov, alongside his friends Vlad Malykhin and Artem Kolomiets, hosts a casual Russian gaming podcast aptly named “Попы и культура” (literally “Butts and Culture,” with a Goatse-esque logo). So, how did these relative newcomers to the podcasting scene manage to get their hands on a Switch 2 before almost anyone else on the planet?

The answer, they explain, is a mix of chance and the unique circumstances of the Russian market. It started when Volkov spotted a friend’s post in a random Telegram group detailing a secured Switch 2 order, scheduled to arrive before the official launch. Intrigued, Volkov inquired further and was given the name of a seller who was importing a handful of Switch 2 units from Dubai.

“So I wrote to this guy,” Volkov recounted. “‘Hey, man, I want to pre-order one Switch 2 for myself to make some content… and also for me, for myself, to play video games, not to sell it or resell it…’ So he told me, ‘Okay, yeah, good. I will have some in on Monday.”

Then, a twist. Ten minutes later, the seller messaged Volkov again. He had an associate with an extra Switch 2 on an even earlier flight. Was Volkov interested? They settled on a price: roughly $800. After consulting his podcast co-hosts, Volkov agreed. “I couldn’t believe I [was] really going to get the Switch 2 nine days before release, first in the world,” he said. “Until I saw the box, until I touched it with my hands, I couldn’t believe that it’s real.”

Volkov immediately began creating content, unboxing the console and showcasing its setup sequence, bespoke musical theme, and system settings – including the initial offering of only two menu themes (black and white). He also confirmed a crucial detail: existing Switch 1 games could not yet run on the new machine. Due to a required day-one patch and without access to launch titles like Mario Kart World on cartridge, the console’s current functionality is limited.

This early access comes as Nintendo attempts to maintain a tight lockdown on Switch 2 information, reportedly even limiting pre-release review units for media and content creators. However, Nintendo’s leverage in Russia is significantly diminished. The company, along with other major console manufacturers, officially ceased selling products in the country following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Nintendo Russia’s controversial CEO was let go in 2023, the regional subsidiary began winding down, and the eShop was put into maintenance mode.

While sanctions and boycotts have complicated gaming in Russia, a thriving grey market for unauthorized imports and various digital workarounds allow dedicated fans to bypass restrictions. Malykhin and Kolomiets mentioned using Indian and Turkish PSN accounts, overseas prepaid cards, and even bank accounts in neighboring Kazakhstan. They’re even caught up on HBO Max’s The Last of Us via VPNs. This isn’t the first instance of tech appearing early in Russia; Apple’s new M4 MacBook Pro also reportedly surfaced there before its global release.

Unlike many leakers, Volkov hasn’t shied away from showing his face, leading to online jokes about “Nintendo Ninjas” coming for him. He isn’t overly concerned about potential repercussions like account bans, stating he won’t log in with his existing Nintendo account until the official launch. When asked about Nintendo’s new terms of service allowing them to brick consoles for violations, he remained unfazed. “I didn’t sign any NDAs. I bought this with my money… Nintendo is from Japan, you know, and they don’t have any official shops in Russia anymore. They don’t have a jurisdiction in Russia.”

This lack of official presence is undoubtedly why Volkov paid nearly double the retail price to a Telegram seller. The other motivation, of course, was the allure of internet clout in a gaming culture that highly values being first. However, Volkov and his co-hosts insist their aim wasn’t to taunt others. “It’s not like we want to show that, ‘Oh, we got a Switch 2, you didn’t get a Switch 2,” Volkov explained. “No, we just want to show you, like, some content and show that even in Russia… we want to show all the world that Russia also has, like, just some guys that just want to play video games.”