Nintendo Switch 2 Announcement Doesn’t Affect Sales of Original Console

Nintendo doesn’t seem to think the announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 has slowed down sales of their original portable console.

This viewpoint was offered when a shareholder inquired about the company’s decision to adjust its financial projections for the year. Specifically, Nintendo revised its expected hardware and software sales downward, reducing them by 1.5 million and 10 million units, respectively.

Shuntaro Furukawa, Nintendo’s president, explained, “After evaluating our sales during the third quarter (October-December 2024) and anticipating how the rest of the year might unfold, we adjusted our forecasts for Switch hardware and software sales.”

He went on to say, “We factored in the fluctuating exchange rates as well, such as altering expectations from 140 yen to 150 yen per U.S. dollar by the fiscal year’s end. These considerations led us to tweak our financial outlook. The adjustments included trimming down hardware and software projections because of the sales trajectory observed during the festive season.”

Furukawa highlighted, “Our Switch has surpassed 150 million units in sales, transforming it into a platform with a significant user base. We planned for another ambitious lineup of new titles this fiscal year, building on our diverse collection of evergreen games and a massive annual player base over 100 million. These elements were why we aimed high at the fiscal year’s outset.”

Reflecting on the holiday season, he remarked, “Our newly released games, like Super Mario Party Jamboree, saw impressive sales across regions. In places outside Japan, bundles with games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe did particularly well. Even though these figures were solid for a product in its eighth year, they didn’t hit the initial targets set for the fiscal year.”

Furukawa acknowledged, “While there might have been some hesitation from buyers anticipating the Switch 2, we saw many new customers purchase the Switch globally during the holidays, as well as others buying it as a replacement or additional console.”

He assessed the software sales by stating, “Although we noticed a decline in year-over-year unit sales, the impact of postponing purchases seemed minor. This is because the Switch 2 will support Switch software. Our revision of software sales expectations also reflects the absence of a blockbuster release like last year’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which could create a surge in excitement and engagement.”

For those eager to learn about Nintendo’s upcoming console, there’s a Nintendo Direct presentation scheduled for April 2nd at 6am PT, 9am ET, 2pm BST, and 3pm CEST. The global launch of Nintendo Switch 2 is set for 2025, though a specific date has yet to be announced.