Nintendo Switch 2 Announcement Leaves Original Console Sales Unaffected

Nintendo seems unfazed by the buzz surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2, confident that it hasn’t dented sales of the original Switch, their portable home console.

This stance came about after a shareholder raised concerns on why the company opted to revise its financial forecasts for the year. Nintendo lowered its expectations for hardware and software sales by 1.5 million and 10 million units, respectively.

Shuntaro Furukawa, Nintendo’s president, addressed these queries by explaining that after evaluating their third quarter performance (from October to December 2024) and the full-year outlook, changes to their sales forecasts were deemed necessary, including an adjustment to the currency exchange rate.

Furukawa pointed out, “We’ve adjusted projections based on holiday season sales trends, revising our yen-to-dollar assumption from 140 to 150 per dollar. The Nintendo Switch has exceeded 150 million units in sales, forming a solid base. With a lineup of exciting new titles, our broad selection of ever-popular games, and over 100 million active players annually, we had ambitious targets for this fiscal year.”

During the festive period, games like Super Mario Party Jamboree saw strong sales globally, with hardware bundles including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe performing well outside Japan. Despite steady numbers for an eighth-year platform, they didn’t quite hit the ambitious targets set.

“While the Switch 2 may have influenced some to delay buying decisions, many new customers and returning buyers still purchased the Switch hardware during the holidays,” Furukawa mentioned. He also noted that even though software sales have dipped compared to previous years, the anticipation of the Switch 2 hasn’t significantly disrupted purchases. This is likely because Switch games will be compatible with the Switch 2. He added that, unlike last year’s hits like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the current lineup didn’t have a single standout title driving sales.

For those eager to know more about Nintendo’s upcoming console, a Nintendo Direct presentation for the Switch 2 is scheduled. Tune in on Wednesday, April 2, at 6am PT / 9am ET / 2pm BST / 3pm CEST for a closer look.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is slated for a global release in 2025, though the exact launch date is still under wraps.