Nintendo Switch 2 Announcement Leaves Original Console Sales Unaffected

Nintendo is confident that announcing the Nintendo Switch 2 hasn’t dampened interest in the original Switch. This perspective was shared in response to a shareholder’s inquiry about the company’s decision to adjust its financial outlook for the year. Nintendo had notably trimmed its expectations for both hardware and software sales by 1.5 million and 10 million units, respectively.

President Shuntaro Furukawa addressed the concern, explaining, “We made adjustments to our sales projections for Switch hardware and software based on the third quarter’s performance (October-December 2024) and the outlook for the rest of the fiscal year.” He noted that they also reviewed their exchange rate assumptions, which, alongside other factors, prompted changes to the financial forecast. The projections for hardware and software units were reduced primarily due to holiday season trends, with the exchange rate revising to 150 yen per U.S. dollar from the previous rate of 140 yen.

The Switch platform continues to thrive, with sales surpassing 150 million units, establishing a solid install base. This year, Nintendo was set to launch a lineup of appealing new games. Together with a range of popular evergreen titles and an annual user base exceeding 100 million, these were key reasons for initially high sales targets.

During the holiday season, titles like Super Mario Party Jamboree performed well globally. Sales outside Japan also saw a boost from bundles featuring games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. However, despite stable sales for an eighth-year platform, they fell short of initial targets.

Furukawa acknowledged that the anticipation for Nintendo Switch 2 might have caused some consumers to hold back on purchases, yet many worldwide still purchased Switch hardware, including those buying replacements or additional systems. On the software side, while year-over-year sales are dipping, Furukawa believes the impact of postponed purchases is minimal since Switch software remains compatible with the Switch 2. The lack of a standout title this year, like last year’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which could galvanize the broader business and spark widespread excitement, is likely a factor behind the reduced software sales forecast.

Eager fans can look forward to a detailed presentation about the new console during the Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 broadcast at 6am PT / 9am ET / 2pm BST / 3pm CEST on Wednesday, April 2. The global release for the Nintendo Switch 2 is slated for 2025, though the exact date remains under wraps.