Switch 2 owners can now use Amiibos without unboxing in unexpected 'hack'
Switch 2 owners have discovered a feature or exploit that allows users to scan Amiibos straight through packaging, without having to open up the box.
Previously, scanning an Amiibo meant opening the factory seal, sacrificing a mint-condition Amiibo package for in-game cosmetics, characters, or items. But as tested and confirmed by Reddit user u/sputnikk on the r/switch2 subreddit, the Switch 2’s NFC reader can scan the chip inside a majority of factory-sealed amiibos.
Nintendo used NFC blocking tags in older Amiibos, but these have now been discontinued in recent releases. This is pretty great news for die-hard collectors looking to use their Amiibos for in-game items without having to ruin their mint-condition “in-box” collector Amiibos.
Some Reddit users joked about taking their Switch 2s to retail stores to scan multiple Amiibos directly off store shelves without buying them. Since Amiibos can be rescanned once per day in most cases, this feature or exploit is harmless, but one that could affect sales for retailers.
Nintendo had sold over 36 million Amiibos by September 2016, and more than 77 million Amiibos by September 2022. Amiibo sales are largely due to the release of tie-in Amiibos with new game releases.
But the Amiibo industry isn’t without its share of dupes and hacks, many of which already run rampant. NFC tag cloning has been an issue, allowing users to spoof Amiibo data. Some counterfeiters went so far as to create fake Amiibos.
This has been a prevalent issue in the past, as counterfeiters sold low-quality, unlicensed Amiibos, Amiibo cards, and other merchandise on Amazon. In October 2023, Nintendo filed a lawsuit against some of its largest counterfeiters and was awarded $7,030,158 against two sellers.
Counterfeit Amiibos and Amiibo cards are still in circulation on websites like eBay, however, and remain a concern for most collectors. Nintendo launched Amiibos in November 2014, which work as interactive action figures, giving you access to new game modes, equipment, and unlockable content in Nintendo games. Originally made for the Wii U, the Amiibo trend continues to this day.
