The Nintendo Switch console was released 6 years ago, but it is still very popular, with sales of about 21 million units in the last fiscal year, reports Bloomberg.
Nintendo cut its sales forecast for the console to 19 million units in November due to component shortages, but is now confident it can do more and demand remains strong. The decision to increase production is an unexpected move late in the console’s lifecycle.
Nintendo has told suppliers and assembly partners that it intends to release more Switch consoles in the fiscal year starting in April, but has yet to give an exact figure. The company may revise its plans later this year if demand is low.
Analysts expect sales to decline, but Nintendo’s plan suggests it sees steady demand for at least another year. According to Nintendo executives, sales of the console, which starts at $199.99, have been affected more by supply issues than by a drop in demand.
Historically, sales of the Switch console have been boosted by the launch of popular games such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons during the pandemic, and Nintendo also has several games from blockbuster franchises, such as the new Zelda game The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which will debut in 2023.
In general, if sales of the Nintendo Switch this year remain at the same level, the console may reach 150 million units. Only Sony’s PlayStation 2 previously reached this level among home game consoles.
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