Nintendo Switch 2 Announcement Leaves Original Console’s Sales Unaffected

Nintendo seems unfazed by the buzz surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2, believing it hasn’t really dented the sales of their original hybrid console.

This discussion emerged after a shareholder questioned Nintendo’s decision to reduce its annual financial forecast. Specifically, the company trimmed its expectations for hardware and software sales by 1.5 million and 10 million units, respectively.

Nintendo’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, addressed these concerns: “Looking at our sales performance in the third quarter (October to December 2024) and our outlook for the rest of the fiscal year, we decided to adjust our sales forecasts for the Nintendo Switch’s hardware and software.”

He explained further, “We also took a new approach to the exchange rate. These considerations, among others, contributed to revising our annual financial forecast. Our projections for hardware and software sales saw reductions, primarily due to sales trends during the holiday season. Additionally, we changed our expected exchange rate from 140 yen to 150 yen per U.S. dollar by the end of the fiscal year.”

Furukawa also pointed out that the Nintendo Switch has surpassed 150 million units in sales, solidifying it as a platform with a substantial user base. “This fiscal year, we planned to launch exciting new titles. Combined with our broad selection of classic games and a dedicated player base exceeding 100 million annually, we set ambitious targets at the year’s start.”

During the holiday season, globally successful titles like Super Mario Party Jamboree buoyed sales, particularly in regions outside Japan, with bundles featuring games such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe performing well. Despite being in its eighth year, the platform’s sales were strong, though they fell short of the ambitious targets.

While Furukawa acknowledged that anticipation for the Nintendo Switch 2 might have caused some hesitation among buyers, he noted many new consumers around the world continued to purchase Nintendo Switch systems, whether as new, replacement, or additional units.

Regarding software, while sales have dipped compared to last year, Furukawa doesn’t believe the prospect of the new console had a significant impact, as Switch games will remain compatible with the upcoming device. He attributed the revised software sales forecast partly to the absence of blockbuster hits like the prior year’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which could have driven a broader engagement.

Curious about Nintendo’s next big thing? Tune into the Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 presentation at 6am PT / 9am ET / 2pm BST / 3pm CEST on Wednesday, April 2, for more insights.

The Nintendo Switch 2, set for a worldwide release in 2025, is still shrouded in mystery regarding its exact launch date.