Nintendo Switch 2 Announcement Leaves Original Console’s Sales Unaffected

Nintendo maintains confidence that the announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 hasn’t dented the sales of its existing portable home console.

These remarks came as an answer to a shareholder’s inquiry after the company adjusted its annual financial forecast, cutting down its hardware and software sales predictions by 1.5 million and 10 million units, respectively.

Shuntaro Furukawa, Nintendo’s president, addressed the concern stating, “After assessing the sales during the third quarter (October-December 2024) and looking ahead to the rest of the fiscal year, we revised our sales forecasts for both Nintendo Switch hardware and software.”

He explained further, “We also adjusted the expected exchange rate. These factors led us to modify our full-year financial projections. Specifically, we have lowered our hardware and software expectations by 1.5 million units and 10 million units, primarily based on sales trends noticed during the holiday season. Additionally, we’ve updated the projected exchange rate from 140 yen to 150 yen per U.S. dollar by the fiscal year’s end.”

With the cumulative sales of the Nintendo Switch surpassing 150 million units, it holds a strong market base. This year, Nintendo planned to launch a number of intriguing new titles, capitalizing on their diverse selection of evergreen games and a user base exceeding 100 million active players annually, which underpinned their ambitious targets at the fiscal year’s start.

During the holiday period, fresh releases like Super Mario Party Jamboree witnessed impressive sales worldwide. Moreover, outside Japan, hardware bundled with games such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe saw solid sales figures. Even though the sales were consistent for a platform in its eighth year, they fell short of the ambitious targets set earlier.

Furukawa mentioned that while there might have been some hesitation among buyers waiting for the Nintendo Switch 2, the holiday season also saw many new consumers taking the plunge with the Nintendo Switch, along with current users opting for additional or replacement systems.

Regarding software, even though sales were slightly down compared to last year, the decline’s impact is presumed minimal since most Nintendo Switch games will be compatible on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. “The revised software sales forecast is partly due to the absence of a standout title like last year’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which could drive business momentum and generate widespread excitement,” he added.

Gamers can look forward to a deeper dive into the next console with a Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 presentation scheduled for 6am PT / 9am ET / 2pm BST / 3pm CEST on Wednesday, April 2.

Slated for a global release in 2025, the exact launch date for the Nintendo Switch 2 remains under wraps.