Nintendo seems unfazed by the unveiling of the Nintendo Switch 2 when it comes to the sales of their current handheld console.
This topic arose when a shareholder questioned Nintendo’s recent decision to revise its annual financial forecast downwards, trimming hardware and software sales projections by 1.5 million units and 10 million units, respectively.
“Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa provided some clarity, stating, “Reflecting on our third quarter sales (October-December 2024) and expectations for the rest of the fiscal year, we adjusted our sales forecasts for the Nintendo Switch hardware and software.”
“We also tweaked our estimated exchange rate,” he continued. “These adjustments, among other factors, informed our updated full-year financial forecast. Specifically, we reduced our hardware and software unit projections by 1.5 million and 10 million units, driven primarily by sales trends witnessed over the holiday season. We’ve also adjusted our projected exchange rate at the fiscal year’s end from 140 yen to 150 yen per U.S. dollar.”
Despite these changes, the cumulative sales of the Nintendo Switch have topped 150 million units, establishing it as a platform with a robust install base. Furukawa highlighted the launch of numerous exciting new titles this fiscal year, which, alongside our diverse range of timeless titles and an annual user base exceeding 100 million, influenced our ambitious targets set at the fiscal year’s start.
During the holiday period, titles like Super Mario Party Jamboree performed exceptionally well across all regions, and outside Japan, sales of hardware bundles with games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe remained steady. Yet, even with these strong performances for a platform in its eighth year, we didn’t quite hit our initial targets.
“I wouldn’t deny that some consumers may have hesitated to purchase due to anticipation for the Nintendo Switch 2, yet many new consumers across the globe purchased Nintendo Switch consoles during the holiday season. Many also opted to buy additional or replacement systems,” Furukawa explained.
Concerning software sales, although we’ve seen a year-on-year decline, the impact of postponed purchases seems minimal since Nintendo Switch software will be compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2. The downward adjustment in our software sales forecast may also be attributed to the absence of a blockbuster title akin to last year’s hits like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which typically generate substantial buzz and engagement.”
Excitingly, more details about Nintendo’s next console will be revealed at an upcoming Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 presentation. The event is set to be broadcast at 6am PT / 9am ET / 2pm BST / 3pm CEST on Wednesday, April 2.
As for the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, it’s scheduled for a worldwide launch in 2025, although the specific date remains under wraps.
