Key Points
- Nintendo’s Switch 2 launched globally amid overwhelming demand and limited supply.
- 2.2 million lottery applications were submitted in Japan; U.S. pre-orders sold out in hours.
- Switch 2 offers upgraded features, including a larger screen and better graphics.
- Nintendo forecasts 15 million unit sales this fiscal year and plans to expand production.
Nintendo officially launched its next-generation console, the Switch 2, on Thursday, drawing long lines and eager fans worldwide. The device, retailing at $499.99, is already in high demand, with shortages expected due to massive pre-order volumes and a global scramble to secure units.
In Tokyo’s Ikebukuro shopping district, dozens of lucky lottery winners lined up outside Bic Camera to collect their consoles. Among them was Yumi Ohi, a 30-year-old delivery contractor from Saitama, who described the moment as emotional after missing out on previous lotteries. “I feel like I’m going to cry,” she said.
Since the original Switch’s launch in 2017, Nintendo has sold over 152 million units, driven by hit games like The Legend of Zelda series and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The Switch 2 maintains a similar hybrid home-portable design but introduces a larger screen, enhanced graphics, and new titles such as Mario Kart World.
According to Serkan Toto of Kantan Games, demand is “sky-high,” with 2.2 million applications submitted for Nintendo’s online sales lottery in Japan alone. U.S. retailer Target saw its pre-orders sell out in under two hours. Analysts predict walk-in availability may take weeks or months.
Despite concerns around supply chain stability, exacerbated during the Trump-era trade tensions, Nintendo appears better prepared. President Shuntaro Furukawa confirmed that production capacity is being strengthened to meet demand, with a sales forecast of 15 million units for the Switch 2 this fiscal year.
Analyst Piers Harding-Rolls from Ampere Analysis suggests early sales will benefit from the large existing Switch user base. However, he notes that the limited first-party game library may initially deter casual users. Nonetheless, Ampere predicts the Switch 2 could surpass 100 million units sold by 2030.
Meanwhile, game pricing—such as Mario Kart World at $79.99—has sparked debate, although some, like longtime fan Akitomo Takahashi, view it as fair compared to past eras. He’s especially eager to play Elden Ring on his new device.
