Nintendo Switch 2 Announcement Leaves Original Console Sales Unaffected

Despite the buzz surrounding the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo remains confident that the announcement has not dampened the sales of their original hybrid console.

This assertion emerged following a shareholder’s inquiry about why Nintendo adjusted its full-year financial outlook. The company trimmed its sales forecasts for both hardware and software by 1.5 million units and 10 million copies, respectively.

Nintendo’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, addressed this during a recent meeting, explaining, “We’ve reevaluated our sales predictions for Nintendo Switch hardware and software based on the sales performance in the third quarter (October-December 2024) and projections for the rest of the financial year.”

He continued, “In addition to amending our exchange rate assumptions, these factors prompted us to update our financial forecast. Specifically, we reduced our sales projections for hardware by 1.5 million and software by 10 million units, which is largely due to the sales trends we observed during the holiday season. The exchange rate assumption has been adjusted from 140 yen to 150 yen per U.S. dollar for the end of the fiscal year.”

Over the years, Nintendo Switch has sold over 150 million units, establishing itself as a solid platform with a huge user base. This year aimed to keep that momentum going, thanks to the release of several attractive new titles, a wide selection of long-lasting titles, and an active player base exceeding 100 million. These factors initially justified setting ambitious targets for the fiscal year.

During the holiday season, new games like Super Mario Party Jamboree performed exceptionally well across all regions. Additionally, they saw strong sales figures outside Japan, particularly with hardware bundles including titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Although the sales were commendable for a console in its eighth year, they fell short of the high targets set earlier in the fiscal year.

Furukawa acknowledged, “There may have been some hesitation among buyers anticipating the Switch 2 release, yet we saw a significant number of first-time buyers and those acquiring replacement or additional systems over the holidays.”

On the software front, while there’s a year-on-year dip in sales, Furukawa played down concerns about postponed purchases saying, “Since Switch software will work on the Nintendo Switch 2 as well, we don’t see it as a major factor. A notable contributor to the lowered software sales forecast is the absence of a blockbuster title, similar to last year’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or Super Mario Bros. Wonder, to captivate a wide audience.”

Looking ahead, you can catch a glimpse of what’s in store with the Nintendo Switch 2 during a special Nintendo Direct presentation. Set your calendars for Wednesday, April 2nd at 6 am PT / 9 am ET / 2 pm BST / 3 pm CEST.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is slated for a global release in 2025, although an exact date has yet to be announced.