Gamers line up for Nintendo Switch 2 launch with global shortfall expected
Gaming Fans Line Up for Launch of Nintendo Switch 2
Excitement was palpable as gaming fans queued up for the highly anticipated launch of Nintendo’s Switch 2. The new device is expected to be in short supply globally due to the pent-up demand for this next-generation gaming console.
According to Serkan Toto, founder of Kantan Games consultancy, “The level of demand seems to be sky-high.”
In Tokyo’s Ikebukuro shopping district, successful applicants of a sales lottery by electronics retailer Bic Camera lined up before the store opened to collect their devices.
One eager customer, Yumi Ohi, a 30-year-old delivery contractor, expressed her joy at finally getting her hands on the Switch 2 after missing out in other lotteries and traveling from Saitama prefecture to Tokyo.
Since its launch in 2017, Nintendo has sold 152 million Switch home-portable devices, establishing itself as a gaming juggernaut with titles like “The Legend of Zelda” and “Animal Crossing: New Horizons.”
The Switch 2, while similar to its predecessor, boasts a larger screen, improved graphics, and launches with titles such as “Mario Kart World.”
Analyst Piers Harding-Rolls from Ampere Analysis predicts strong adoption of the Switch 2 due to the large existing audience of Switch users. He also mentioned that Nintendo is better prepared to handle the high demand this time around.
The launch of the $499.99 Switch 2 serves as a test of Nintendo’s supply chain management during the ongoing trade war initiated by US President Donald Trump.
Nintendo aims to sell 15 million Switch 2 units and 4.5 million Switch units in the current financial year. President Shuntaro Furukawa emphasized the company’s commitment to meeting the strong demand through increased production capacity and focused sales promotion.
Amidst the anticipation, Shinichi Sekiguchi, a hotel receptionist, expressed his excitement about buying the Switch 2 on its release date.
Nintendo’s My Nintendo Store in Japan received 2.2 million applications for the Switch 2 sales lottery, while pre-orders at Target sold out in less than two hours.
According to Kantan Games’ Serkan Toto, it may take weeks or even months before the Switch 2 becomes readily available in stores.
Investors have high expectations for the new device, reflected in Nintendo’s soaring shares that have gained almost 30% this year.
There are concerns about whether the momentum of the Switch 2 will be sustained after hardcore gamers upgrade. Analyst Piers Harding-Rolls noted that the lack of strong first-party games at launch might prompt some casual users to wait and see how the game library evolves over the next few years.
Ampere Analysis projects Switch 2 sales to exceed 100 million units by 2030.
The game “Mario Kart World” is priced at $79.99 in the US, sparking discussions about game pricing. Nintendo is also working on attracting third-party titles to the system.
Akitomo Takahashi, a salesman in his forties, reminisced about the days of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and expressed his willingness to pay for games like “Elden Ring” on his Switch 2.
