Key Takeaways
- Nintendo hopes to sell 15 million Switch 2 in its first financial year, though some analysts believe actual sales could be closer to 20 million.
- Despite high import tariffs on Chinese goods, Nintendo is holding the Switch 2 launch price at $449.99.
- Nintendo has cautioned U.S. customers that delivery by the June 5 launch date is not guaranteed.
Nintendo said on Thursday that it aims to sell 15 million units of its upcoming Switch 2 console during its first financial year, while projecting a 13% increase in operating profit to 320 billion yen ($2.22 billion).
The forecast comes ahead of the highly anticipated June 5 release of the Switch 2, which has faced repeated delays and disruptions due to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs.
Nintendo Switch 2 Sales Outlook
Some analysts have described Nintendo’s Switch 2 sales projection as “cautious,” given the company’s history of conservative forecasts.
Serkan Toto, CEO of the games consultancy Kantan Games, told Reuters that actual sales may reach closer to 20 million units.
Nintendo also expects to sell 45 million software units for the Switch 2 in the current financial year, driven by major launch titles such as Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bonanza.
Additionally, the company projects sales of 4.5 million units of the original Switch, which remains one of the best-selling consoles of all time.
Pricing and Tariffs
Consumers were concerned about the Switch 2’s pricing after Nintendo paused U.S. pre-orders to assess the impact of export tariffs.
Although Trump recently paused most of the surcharges, he raised import duties on Chinese goods to 145%, a significant problem since the majority of Switch 2 consoles are manufactured in China.
Despite this, Nintendo reinstated U.S. pre-orders, maintaining the console’s launch price at $449.99.
“If additional tariffs are imposed in the future and we are forced to adjust the price, we may see a decrease in demand,” said Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa during an earnings briefing.
The company previously faced criticism over the $89.99 price tag for Mario Kart World, which many fans considered excessive for a long-running franchise.
Furukawa added that the tariffs could cost the company billions of yen in revenue, and Nintendo will continue to revise its financial forecasts accordingly.
Meanwhile, competitors such as Sony and Microsoft have announced global price increases for their PlayStation and Xbox consoles.
U.S. Shipping Delays
In 2019, Nintendo established a manufacturing hub in Vietnam as a contingency against Trump’s earlier tariffs. The company now plans to rely on this facility to fulfill most U.S. orders.
However, Nintendo has warned American consumers that high demand may result in order delays.
“We’re thrilled by the enthusiasm for Nintendo Switch 2,” the company stated. “Due to very high demand, we are working diligently to fulfill orders as product becomes available, but delivery by June 5 is not guaranteed.”
Customers will receive updated shipping estimates after completing their purchases through the My Nintendo Store.
Kurt Robson is a London-based reporter at CCN, specialising in the fast-moving worlds of crypto and emerging technology. He began his career covering local news in Cornwall after graduating from Falmouth University with First Class Honours in Journalism. There, he cut his teeth on everything from council meetings to missing swans.
He quickly rose through the ranks to become a frontline journalist at several of the UK’s leading national newspapers. Over the years, he has interviewed musicians and celebrities, reported from courtrooms and crime scenes, and secured multiple front-page exclusives.
Following the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kurt shifted his focus to technology journalism—just ahead of the AI boom. With a natural curiosity and a trained eye for emerging trends, he has found a new rhythm in reporting on innovation.
At CCN, Kurt's work focuses on the cutting edge of crypto, blockchain, AI, and the evolving digital world. Drawing on his background in people-first reporting and his deep interest in disruptive tech, Kurt delivers stories that are insightful, entertaining, and human-centric.
