As the World Waits for Nintendo to Announce Switch 2, Sales of the Switch Continue to Plummet
The winds of change are blowing in the gaming world as Nintendo has recently adjusted its product sales expectations, hinting at a quieter phase for the Switch as speculation grows around its successor, the anticipated Switch 2.
On November 5, a revised sales prediction was released by Nintendo, marking a significant alteration in their financial goals for the fiscal year ending March 2025. The console giant now anticipates 12.5 million units sold, down from the previous forecast of 13.5 million. This adjustment arrives as the Switch is on the brink of its ninth anniversary in the market.
Pushing these forecasts further down are the company’s revised expectations for total sales and operating profits. Nintendo projects these figures to dip from 1.35 trillion yen to 1.28 trillion yen, and operating profits from 400 billion yen to 360 billion yen, respectively.
Nintendo has assured fans that they won’t have to wait long for news on the Switch’s successor, with announcements expected within this financial year, giving fans hope of hearing more before next April.
Looking back at the second quarter tally of the current financial year, covering July to September 2024, Nintendo accrued 276.7 billion yen (approximately $1.8 billion) in revenue alongside a net profit of 27.7 billion yen (approximately $182 million). This marks a substantial 17% fall in revenue and a surprising 69% drop in profit when compared to the same timeframe in the previous financial year.
The preceding year witnessed landmark achievements with the launch of the acclaimed Super Mario Bros. Movie and the record-breaking release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom. However, this year has been on the lighter side, contributing to the differing financial outcomes.
Sales data provides further insight: 4.72 million Switch units were sold in the half-year leading up to September 30, a sharp decrease from the 6.84 million units sold in the comparable period last year, equating to a 31% reduction. Similarly, software sales diminished by almost 28% year-on-year, hitting 70.28 million.
Nintendo attributes part of its previous success to the widespread influence of the Mario movie in bolstering its gaming division during the first six months of the past fiscal year. Compared to these advantageous factors, the current year has seen no similar catalysts to spur sales.
The latest sales figures for Nintendo’s recent game releases were also shared. Paper Mario Thousand-Year Door, launched in May, reached 1.94 million units sold. Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, released in June, saw 1.57 million sales. Notably, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom made its debut in September with promising initial sales of 2.58 million units. Additionally, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe continues to be a major hit, adding another 2.31 million units to its already impressive total of 64.27 million sold.
Despite the current trends, Nintendo emphasizes its strategy for continuing momentum with the Switch, declaring an intention to place not only one but multiple systems in each household. The company is dedicated to bringing forth new content that keeps players engaged with the Switch long-term, hoping this approach will help in capitalizing on hardware sales.
Fans can look forward to upcoming titles such as Mario & Luigi: Brothership arriving this week, with Donkey Kong Country Returns HD anticipated for release in January 2025.
Stay tuned as we await further announcements that could change the landscape for Nintendo and its loyal fanbase. The excitement for what’s next continues to build.
