Nintendo Switch 2 Announcement Leaves Original Console Sales Unaffected

Nintendo seems pretty confident that the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 hasn’t put a damper on sales for the original Switch console. Addressing concerns, a shareholder inquired about the company’s decision to adjust its annual financial forecast downward, a move that included trimming their expectations for both hardware and software sales by 1.5 million units and 10 million units, respectively.

President Shuntaro Furukawa weighed in on the matter, explaining, “In response to sales data from the third quarter (October-December 2024) and our outlook for the rest of the year, we updated our sales predictions for the Switch. We also adjusted our expected exchange rate, which contributed to revising our financial forecast. We’ve scaled back on our unit sales forecasts due to the holiday season trends, and have adjusted our exchange rate anticipations from 140 yen to 150 yen per US dollar.”

Despite these shifts, Furukawa pointed out that the Nintendo Switch has achieved over 150 million units in sales, establishing a solid player base. This year, Nintendo aimed to launch several exciting new titles, supported by a diverse range of evergreen games and an impressive user base exceeding 100 million active players annually. These were some of the factors behind the ambitious targets set earlier this year.

During the festive period, titles like Super Mario Party Jamboree performed exceptionally well across all regions. Outside Japan, hardware bundles featuring games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe also did well. However, despite being in its eighth year, the platform’s sales didn’t quite hit the targets originally set.

While Furukawa acknowledged that anticipation for the Nintendo Switch 2 might have caused some people to delay purchasing decisions, he observed a healthy number of new buyers picking up the Nintendo Switch. Additionally, many customers either replaced their existing systems or bought extra ones. Regarding software, although year-over-year sales are waning, the impact of postponing purchases hasn’t been significant, particularly because Nintendo Switch games will be compatible with the new Switch 2. He noted that a contributing factor to the forecast adjustment in software sales was the absence of blockbuster hits like “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” or “Super Mario Bros. Wonder,” which previously invigorated the company’s performance.

For those eager to know more about the next evolution of Nintendo’s console, the Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 presentation will be live-streamed on Wednesday, April 2, at 6 AM PT, 9 AM ET, 2 PM BST, and 3 PM CEST. The Nintendo Switch 2 is anticipated to hit global markets in 2025, though the exact release date is still under wraps.