Nintendo remains confident that the announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 hasn’t significantly affected the sales of the original Switch console.
This assurance came as a response to a shareholder’s query regarding Nintendo’s decision to lower its annual financial forecast. They have adjusted their hardware and software sales predictions downward by 1.5 million units and 10 million units, respectively.
Nintendo’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, addressed these concerns, explaining, “The sales performance in the third quarter (October-December 2024) and expectations for the rest of the fiscal year prompted us to adjust our sales forecasts for both the hardware and software of the Nintendo Switch.”
He continued, “We also revised our assumed exchange rate. Factors like these influenced our decision to revise our full-year financial outlook. Consequently, we reduced our sales estimates by 1.5 million hardware units and 10 million software units, primarily based on holiday season sales trends. Additionally, we adjusted our expected exchange rate from 140 yen to 150 yen per U.S. dollar by the fiscal year’s end.”
Despite these adjustments, the Switch has an impressive track record, surpassing 150 million units sold, establishing a substantial user base. Furukawa noted, “This year, we planned to launch many enticing new games. This, along with the diversity of our evergreen titles and a robust user base exceeding 100 million annual players, led to ambitious goals at the fiscal year’s outset.”
During the holiday period, titles like Super Mario Party Jamboree did well across all regions. Moreover, outside Japan, there was strong demand for hardware bundled with games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Although sales remained resilient for a console in its eighth year, they fell short of our initial targets.
Furukawa admitted, “While the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 might have made some consumers hesitate to purchase, the holiday season saw numerous new Nintendo Switch buyers worldwide, along with many purchasing either replacement or additional consoles.”
Regarding software, even though sales have dipped compared to last year, Furukawa believes that hesitation to purchase due to the upcoming console launch was minimal, given that Nintendo Switch games will be compatible with the Switch 2. He added, “The downgrade in forecasted software sales largely stems from the absence of a blockbuster release akin to last year’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or Super Mario Bros. Wonder that could drive significant enthusiasm and engagement.”
To stay updated on the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, look out for the Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 presentation, airing at 6am PT / 9am ET / 2pm BST / 3pm CEST on Wednesday, April 2nd.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to hit the global market in 2025, although the exact release date remains under wraps.
