Nintendo Switch 2 Announcement Leaves Original Console’s Sales Unaffected

Nintendo is confident that revealing the Nintendo Switch 2 hasn’t negatively affected sales of the current portable home console.

This assertion was made in response to a shareholder’s concerns about the company’s decision to adjust its full-year financial outlook. Nintendo has lowered its hardware and software sales projections by 1.5 million and 10 million units, respectively.

Addressing the issue, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa explained, “Based on our third-quarter sales performance and forecasts for the rest of the fiscal year, we’ve revised our sales expectations for the Nintendo Switch’s hardware and software.”

He elaborated further, “Our financial forecast has changed due to factors like adjusting the exchange rate, which now assumes 150 yen to the U.S. dollar instead of 140 yen. The unit sales forecast saw a reduction, primarily because sales during the holiday period didn’t quite meet our initial targets. Despite consistent sales in its eighth year, we experienced a slight decline.”

With cumulative sales of the Nintendo Switch surpassing 150 million units, Furukawa noted how it has grown into a sturdy platform with a solid user base. This year, Nintendo aimed high, releasing enticing new titles, supported by evergreen classics and a massive user base exceeding 100 million players annually.

Throughout the holiday season, hits like Super Mario Party Jamboree sold well globally. Additionally, outside Japan, hardware bundles featuring popular games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe saw considerable success. Even though the market showed strong signs, the numbers fell short of the original expectations.

Furukawa acknowledged, “There might have been a slight impact from customers waiting for the Nintendo Switch 2. Still, we saw many new buyers of the current Switch, as well as others purchasing replacements or additional systems.”

Regarding software, he detailed, “Although our year-over-year unit sales have declined, we believe the delay in purchasing decisions was minor since Switch games will be compatible with the upcoming Switch 2. The lack of a standout title, unlike last year’s big hits, has contributed to our revised forecasts.”

For those eager to see what’s next, Nintendo’s upcoming Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 presentation is set to stream at 6 am PT / 9 am ET / 2 pm BST / 3 pm CEST on Wednesday, April 2nd.

Looking ahead, the Nintendo Switch 2 is scheduled for a worldwide release in 2025, albeit without a specific launch date just yet.