Nintendo Switch 2 Announcement Unaffected Original Console’s Sales

Nintendo remains confident that the announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 hasn’t put a damper on the sales of their original hybrid console.

These comments were made after a shareholder asked about the company’s decision to adjust its annual financial outlook downwards, reducing their previous hardware and software sales projections by 1.5 million units and 10 million units respectively.

“In light of our sales performance in the third quarter (October-December 2024) and our projections for the rest of the fiscal year, we decided to revise our sales forecasts for the Nintendo Switch,” explained Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa.

He added, “We also made adjustments to the assumed exchange rate. These elements and other considerations led us to update our full-year financial forecast. Specifically, we’ve decreased both our hardware and software unit projections by 1.5 million and 10 million units, respectively, largely based on the trends we’ve observed during the holiday period. Additionally, we’ve changed our assumed exchange rate from 140 yen to 150 yen per U.S. dollar for the end of the fiscal year.

“Over time, the Nintendo Switch has reached a cumulative sales figure surpassing 150 million units, establishing a solid install base. This fiscal year, we planned to launch a slew of exciting new titles, and with a mix of evergreen games and a yearly active user base exceeding 100 million, we felt confident setting ambitious targets at the year’s start.

“During the holiday months, titles like Super Mario Party Jamboree performed exceptionally well across all regions, and outside Japan, bundles featuring games such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe saw robust hardware sales. While sales were stable for a device in its eighth year, they still fell short of our initial forecasts.

“I will not claim there wasn’t any impact from consumers holding off purchases in anticipation of the Nintendo Switch 2. However, we noticed a significant number of new buyers globally, alongside many existing users upgrading or buying additional systems during the holiday rush.

“For software, despite year-on-year declines, we believe the postponement of purchases hardly played a role, especially since Nintendo Switch titles will be compatible with the new Switch 2. The downward revision to our software sales outlook partly reflects the absence of a singular blockbuster akin to last year’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which could galvanize our business and energize our community.”

Mark your calendars! A Nintendo Direct focused on the Switch 2 is set for 6am PT / 9am ET / 2pm BST / 3pm CEST on Wednesday, April 2nd, where more details about their next console will be unveiled.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is scheduled for a worldwide release in 2025, though an exact launch date hasn’t been pinned down yet.