Is It Possible to Purchase Games from Nintendo Overseas to Play on My Australia-Based Switch?

I am based in Australia and own a NIntendo Switch.

I noticed this past week that the Jackbox Party Packs are on sale in the US, but they don't seem to available on the Australian Nintendo store. I tried to purchase a Party Pack on the US store, after turning on my VPN, but once I log in, the US Nintendo store switches me to the Australian and won't let me buy the game.

Has anyone else encountered this issue before? Does anyone have any advice on how I might purchase the game and play it in Australia?

Thanking you in advance,
Ian

NintendoSwitch #Jackbox

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Comments

  • +2

    You need to create another Nintendo account, based in the US. Then you add this to your Switch. No VPN is required.

    However, you need to pay with US funds e.g. US-based Nintendo gift cards. You can google for places that sell these online. Here's one I've used:

    https://www.g2a.com/category/nintendo-eshop-c1569?f[regions][0]=879

    Check this too:

    https://www.videogameschronicle.com/guide/how-to-buy-switch-…

    • Thank you for the tip!

  • +1

    Which pack are you after? Use Dekudeals and set an alert for when the one you want goes on sale, you can also see the price history so you can decide what price you're willing to buy at and can also set it for if they go under a particular a price. For most games they are usually discounted to the same price, but I've found the Jackbox Party Packs have varying sale prices.

    https://www.dekudeals.com/search?q=Jackbox+party

    • Thank you for the tip! I did not know about Dekudeals, so will definitely bookmark that site.

      Between us, the Nintendo shop clearly has some problems. If you do a search for the game, no Jackbox titles come up at all. Yet, following the Dekudeals link, I had no trouble purchasing the game on their site.

      • +1

        The Aus Nintendo Shop site is pretty crap, unfortunately.

        If you get yourself set up with a US account and funding, I recommend checking here (or subscribe):

        https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitchDeals/

        for US-based deals too.

        • If I were to open a US account, which I am certainly open to, can I play both US and Australian games on my Switch? Would I have to log in and out? Or are both accounts available simultaneously?

          • +1

            @IanFJ: Both accounts are on there at the same time and all games are accessible by all users on your Switch. No logging in or out needed.

            • @gadgetguy: I didn't know that. I will certainly look into it. I've got a VPN so should have no trouble setting it up.

              • @IanFJ: VPN is not needed either to buy or to play the games.

                • @gadgetguy: Are you saying the US Nintendo store will let Aussies buy games and play them in Australia? That's unusual. More often than not we have to pretend we're in the other country before accessing their store (e.g., Amazon).

                  Thanks for the follow up info!

                  • @IanFJ: Yes!

                    I have over a dozen games purchased on my US account along with all my local ones.

                    The key is to open a Nintendo account, with the location set to US. Then you purchase from the US store.

                    You're overthinking this - it's much simpler than you are thinking.

                    I don't think you read the first link I sent you about this.

                    • @gadgetguy: No, I hadn't read the Video Games Chronicles article. You're correct, it really is quite simple. Thanks for this.

      • +1

        Yeah, for digital games I exclusively shop via Dekudeals (and occasionally Ozbargain, but even then I usually check it out on Dekudeals). The Nintendo eshop is a nightmare, the wishlist is useless and I can never find what I'm looking for. Dekudeals works well, has price history, has great wishlist/collection management and as a bonus also has things like Metacritic ratings and length of play.

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