Nintendo’s popular handheld gaming console, the Nintendo Switch, seems to be experiencing a slowdown in sales as the company narrowly misses its revised sales targets for the last fiscal year.
Initially, Nintendo had set a sales target of 21 million units for the Nintendo Switch, but later revised it to 18 million units. Unfortunately, the company fell just short of its revised target, shipping 17.97 million consoles during the 12-month period.
As a result, Nintendo has set a more conservative forecast for the current fiscal year, aiming to sell 15 million Nintendo Switch consoles. This suggests that Nintendo recognizes a decline in the Switch’s momentum, despite the console’s impressive lifetime sales of over 125 million units since its launch.
However, Nintendo fans shouldn’t expect the announcement of a Nintendo Switch successor, often referred to as the Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch Pro, in the near future. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa confirmed that the company does not have plans for next-generation hardware in the current fiscal year.
Considering Furukawa’s statement, it is unlikely that Nintendo will share any hardware news until at least April 2024. If a new console is in the works, the earliest probable time for its unveiling would be during the announcement season next year, typically between June and July. Another possibility could be a reveal during the September 2024 Nintendo Direct, an annual pre-recorded announcement program by Nintendo, which could potentially lead to a Holiday 2024 launch for the successor to the Nintendo Switch.
Many had hoped for the Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch Pro to launch alongside the highly anticipated game, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which is releasing in May. While improved hardware could enhance the gaming experience for such a title, it is worth noting that Nintendo’s development teams, such as Nintendo EPD and co-developer Monolith Soft, have a track record of delivering polished games even on the existing Switch hardware. Despite its age, the Switch continues to impress with games like Xenoblade Chronicles 3, showcasing technical capabilities that defy its limitations.
Nintendo fans will have to wait patiently for any official announcements regarding the next-generation Nintendo Switch, but in the meantime, they can continue to enjoy the vast library of games available on the current console.
