NEW YORK, NY – July 20, 2025 – In a twist stranger than any video game plot, a seemingly ordinary office stapler, allegedly responsible for destroying several highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 prototype units at a GameStop store, has just sold at auction for a staggering $250,000.
The saga began several months ago when rumors swirled about a catastrophic incident at an undisclosed GameStop location. Whispers on gaming forums and social media suggested an employee, attempting to secure a promotional poster with excessive zeal, accidentally fired a staple directly into a box containing multiple pre-release Switch 2 consoles destined for a launch event. The damage, reportedly rendering the units inoperable, was initially dismissed as an unverified urban legend by many. Initial reports of the incident surfaced on Business Insider.
However, the story took a life of its own. Dubbed the "Switch 2 Slayer" or "The Stapler of Doom" by online communities, the humble stapler became an instant meme – a symbol of corporate mishap and the chaotic, unpredictable nature of the gaming world. Its infamy only grew when GameStop, under the leadership of meme-stock icon Ryan Cohen, decided to lean into the absurdity.
Earlier this month, GameStop officially listed the stapler on eBay, confirming its existence and its purported role in the Switch 2 debacle. The listing description was characteristically tongue-in-cheek: "*One (1) Genuine GameStop Issue Swingline Stapler. Pre-owned. Minor cosmetic wear. May have encountered next-gen hardware (results unverified). Provenance: Involved in an unplanned interaction with unreleased Nintendo product. Sold as-is. No returns.*"
The auction ignited a frenzy. What started as a joke quickly escalated into a serious bidding war. Collectors, meme enthusiasts, and likely a few investors hoping for another GameStop-related surge saw immense value in owning this bizarre piece of gaming history. Bids skyrocketed from a few hundred dollars into the tens of thousands within hours. Gameranx detailed the intense auction battle.
After a week of intense competition, the gavel fell (virtually) at $250,000. The identity of the winning bidder remains anonymous, known only by their eBay handle "Console_Crusher_Collector."
GameStop Chairman Ryan Cohen, never one to miss an opportunity for viral engagement, fueled the fire on social media. Shortly after the incident rumors first spread, he cryptically tweeted, "Operational efficiency includes proper stapler training. Update the manuals." Ryan Cohen's first cryptic tweet. Following the auction's conclusion, he doubled down with a simple, triumphant message: "Free cash flow achieved. One staple at a time." accompanied by a GIF of a stapler. Ryan Cohen's post-auction tweet.
Nintendo has remained characteristically silent on the entire matter, neither confirming nor denying the alleged destruction of prototype units. The Switch 2 launch proceeded without any widely reported issues stemming from the incident.
The sale raises profound, if slightly ridiculous, questions about value in the digital age. Is it the stapler itself? The audacious story behind it? The meme culture that elevated it? Or simply the sheer, unadulterated absurdity of the entire situation that commanded a quarter-million-dollar price tag?
One thing is certain: the "GameStop Switch 2 Stapler" has cemented its place in gaming folklore. It’s no longer just a tool for binding paper; it's a $250,000 monument to a viral moment, corporate trolling, and the unpredictable power of the internet. The anonymous buyer now possesses arguably the most infamous piece of office equipment in history – a stapler that, true or not, will forever be linked to the near-mythical destruction of Nintendo's next big thing.
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