It’s the holidays. People in Japan are looking for presents and the Nintendo Switch is bound to be a popular gift item. However, it may be a good idea to check those Switch units before gifting them.
Nintendo announced that customers in Japan report the error code 2162-0002 which prevents them from completing the initial setup of their consoles. If customers in Japan experience this problem, Nintendo will replace the defective devices soon after completing an online form.
Interestingly, the error code 2162-0002 has plagued some Switch owners in one form or another for the past few years. A Redditor, for example, recalled in 2017 how it was a system break and needed a replacement unit. Other mentions of the error I’ve seen online have popped up after charging it in handheld mode or even checking friend requests.
Nintendo of America has a page for this error code, to reboot by pressing and holding the power button for three seconds before selecting Power Options and then Restart.
Kotaku has reached out to Nintendo of America for comment as to whether there have been similar setup errors for new Switches as reported in Japan, and will update this article if the company provides comment.