Nintendo Switch 2 Announcement Leaves Original Console’s Sales Unaffected

Nintendo remains confident that the unveiling of the Nintendo Switch 2 hasn’t hindered sales of its original versatile gaming console. This insight came as a reassuring note after an investor inquired about the company’s choice to adjust its annual financial outlook, which included reducing its hardware and software sales predictions by 1.5 million and 10 million units, respectively.

Responding to the inquiry, Nintendo’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, explained, “Reflecting on sales data from the third quarter (October-December 2024) and expectations for what’s left of the fiscal year, we’ve updated our sales forecasts for Nintendo Switch hardware and software.”

He further clarified, “Apart from the changes in sales forecasts, we’ve also adjusted our expected exchange rate. These combined factors prompted us to realign our full-year financial projections. Specifically, we reduced our unit sales forecasts, cutting our hardware and software predictions by 1.5 million and 10 million units. This decision mainly mirrors the sales trends observed during the holiday season. Additionally, we revised our anticipated exchange rate at the fiscal year’s end from 140 yen to 150 yen per U.S. dollar.”

Furukawa highlighted the strength of the original Nintendo Switch by adding, “With over 150 million units sold, the Nintendo Switch has established a strong user base. This year, we had plans to release an array of enticing new titles that, alongside our evergreen collection and the impressive number of over 100 million annual users, inspired us to set ambitious goals for this fiscal period.”

During the holiday season, he noted, “Titles like Super Mario Party Jamboree showed outstanding sales in all regions, and internationally, we saw robust sales of hardware bundled with games such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. While the numbers were impressive for an eighth-year platform, they didn’t quite hit the marks we hoped for initially.”

Furukawa also touched on consumer behavior, stating, “I wouldn’t completely rule out some consumers hesitating to buy due to the impending Nintendo Switch 2. However, a significant number of new customers across the globe purchased Nintendo Switch consoles during the holidays, whether as first-time buys, replacements, or additional systems.”

Commenting on software sales, he remarked, “Although there’s a year-on-year decline in software units sold, we believe the impact of deferred purchases was minimal since Nintendo Switch games will be compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2. The reason for revising down our software sales expectations partly lies in the absence of a standout title, like last fiscal year’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which could boost our overall industry excitement and engagement.”

Interested individuals can mark their calendars for more insights into the upcoming console during the Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 presentation, scheduled for broadcast at 6am PT / 9am ET / 2pm BST / 3pm CEST on Wednesday, April 2nd.

The global release of Nintendo Switch 2 is slated for 2025, though the exact launch date remains under wraps.