Fedor Volkov, a host of a popular Russian gaming podcast “Попы и культура” (Butts and Culture), became the first person in Russia to secure a Nintendo Switch 2 console before its official release. The console was purchased from a seller on Telegram for almost twice the sticker price, with Volkov purchasing it nine days ahead of schedule.
Volkov’s acquisition of the Switch 2 came after he stumbled upon a Telegram post about securing a pre-order for the console that was scheduled to arrive before its official June 5 launch. He contacted a seller who had connections in Dubai and eventually secured an extra unit at a price of around $800. Volkov then shared his experience with his podcast co-hosts, Vlad Malykhin and Artem Kolomiets.
The trio has been hosting their podcast since just a couple of years ago and will soon reach their 100th episode after Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest this year. Despite the challenges posed by sanctions and black market imports, they have managed to maintain a strong online presence.
Volkov’s decision to purchase the Switch 2 without anonymity has raised eyebrows, with some joking about “Nintendo Ninjas” being dispatched to silence him. However, Volkov is not concerned about potential repercussions from Nintendo, citing that he bought the console with his own money and didn’t steal it.
The acquisition of the Switch 2 has sparked interest among Russian gamers, who are eager to access the console despite the challenges posed by sanctions and black market imports. Volkov’s goal was not to show off his console but rather to share content and demonstrate that Russia still has a thriving gaming community despite the restrictions imposed by the global gaming industry.
Source: https://kotaku.com/switch-2-leak-nintendo-ban-russia-ukraine-day-one-patch-1851782934