Nintendo Switch 2 Shipments Will Meet High Demand
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa advised Nikkei on Tuesday that the corporate would “put together sufficient merchandise to fulfill demand” for Nintendo Switch 2 at launch (translated from Japanese). The Switch 2 can have enough inventory forward of launch, in order that resellers might be prevented from creating provide shortages for the console with excessive demand at launch.
In February 2024, Nikkei had reported that the choice to delay the launch of Nintendo Switch 2 to early 2025 was taken partially to forestall scalpers — individuals who purchase merchandise in bulk portions at launch to resell at a revenue — from impacting provides. Nintendo additionally reportedly wished a wholesome lineup of launch titles for the Switch 2 by the point the console launched.
Console launches are often marked by resellers shopping for in bulk, thus creating provide shortages for purchasers, and later promoting the merchandise at a markup beneath excessive demand. PS5 and Xbox Series launches have been marred with the identical downside, along with provide chain points rising resulting from COVID-19. It took months earlier than the current-generation consoles have been available on-line and on retail cabinets. The Nintendo Switch confronted inventory shortages at launch, too, when the console went on sale in 2017.
This week, Nintendo minimize its full-year gross sales forecast for the unique Switch by 12 % to 11 million items as clients now start to look to the Switch 2. The Switch, nevertheless, reached lifetime gross sales of 150 million items, after the corporate shipped 9.54 million items of the console within the April-December interval.
The Nintendo Switch 2 was unveiled on January 16 after a string of leaks hinted on the console’s design and specs. The Switch 2 is larger than its predecessor, includes a new Joy-Con connecting mechanism, and is available in an all-black colourway. Nintendo has not but shared particulars about {hardware} specs, however will host a Nintendo Direct stream focussed on the Switch 2 on April 2.