Nintendo Switch 2 Announcement Leaves Original Console Sales Unaffected

Nintendo believes that the unveiling of the Nintendo Switch 2 hasn’t deterred fans from purchasing the original Switch console.

This discussion arose when a shareholder questioned Nintendo’s rationale for adjusting its yearly financial outlook, which included reducing their hardware and software sales forecasts by 1.5 million and 10 million units, respectively.

Addressing these concerns, Nintendo’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, explained, “Given our sales figures from the third quarter, from October to December 2024, and looking ahead to the rest of our fiscal year, we had to adjust our sales predictions for both hardware and software. Additionally, we updated our assumed exchange rate. Together, these factors prompted us to revise our annual financial forecast.”

He continued, “We’ve adjusted our forecasts, cutting our hardware and software projections by 1.5 million and 10 million units. This mainly reflects sales trends seen over the holiday season. Our anticipated exchange rate has shifted from 140 to 150 yen per U.S. dollar by the fiscal year’s end.”

“As of now, cumulative sales for the Nintendo Switch have exceeded 150 million units, cementing it as a formidable platform with a solid user base. We’ve rolled out numerous captivating new titles this fiscal year, and, alongside our extensive array of evergreen games and an active user base exceeding 100 million annually, these were the foundations for our optimistic targets earlier in the year.”

Reflecting on the holiday period, he noted, “Title sales, such as Super Mario Party Jamboree, performed strongly worldwide, and outside Japan, bundled hardware with games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sold well. Nonetheless, even in its eighth year, the system’s sales didn’t quite meet our initial expectations.”

He acknowledged the potential influence of the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 on current purchasing behaviors, adding, “While some might have hesitated to buy due to the imminent Switch 2 launch, many new consumers bought the Nintendo Switch, and plenty opted for replacement or additional units.”

“In terms of software, while there’s been a year-to-year decline, we think postponements in purchase decisions have had a minimal impact, since Nintendo Switch software will be compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2. As for the downward tweak in our software sales forecasts, one contributing factor is that there hasn’t been a mega-hit like last year’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or Super Mario Bros. Wonder to propel the entire business and generate widespread excitement.”

For those eager to learn more about the anticipated console, Nintendo will host a Direct presentation on the Nintendo Switch 2. This event is slated for Wednesday, April 2, at 6am PT / 9am ET / 2pm BST / 3pm CEST.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is slated for a worldwide release in 2025, though a specific launch date hasn’t been announced yet.