After multiple leaks last month, the Nintendo Switch 2 has finally been revealed, with the hybrid console expected to arrive sometime in 2025. There’s no doubt that demand for the successor to the hugely successful Switch will be high when it launches. Nintendo is reportedly preparing to meet high demand for the Switch 2 to prevent resellers from affecting stock at launch.
Nintendo Switch 2 shipments to meet high demand
Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa told Nikkei on Tuesday that the company will “prepare enough products to meet demand” when the Nintendo Switch 2 launches (translated from Japanese). The Switch 2 will be in stock ahead of release, preventing resellers from running short on the console due to high demand at launch.
In February 2024, Nikkei reported that part of the reason for delaying the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 to early 2025 was to prevent scalpers (people who buy products in large quantities at launch to resell them at a profit) from affecting supply. Nintendo is also reportedly looking to launch a healthy slate of games when the Switch 2 launches.
Console launches are often marked by resellers buying in bulk, creating a supply shortage for customers, and then selling the products at a markup amid high demand. In addition to supply chain issues due to COVID-19, the launch of the PS5 and Xbox series has also suffered from the same issues. It took several months before the current generation of consoles became available online and on retail shelves. The Nintendo Switch also faced inventory shortages when it was released in 2017.
This week, Nintendo cut its full-year sales forecast for the original Switch by 12% to 11 million units, as consumers are now paying attention to the Switch 2. However, final sales of the Switch reached 150 million units after the company sold 9.54 million Switch units between April and December.
The Nintendo Switch 2 was released on January 16, following a series of leaks hinting at the console’s design and specifications. The Switch 2 is larger than its predecessor, features a new Joy-Con connection mechanism, and comes in an all-black color scheme. Nintendo has yet to reveal details about the hardware specs, but it will host a Switch 2-themed Nintendo Direct on April 2.
