Nintendo Switch 2: Shuntaro Furukawa promises ample stock, discusses potential impact of US tariffs
Will there be enough Nintendo Switch 2 units available at launch to meet demand? According to Shuntaro Furukawa (president of Nintendo Co. Ltd), the answer is yes.
Today, Nintendo shared its latest financial results, and it was the occasion for Shuntaro Furukawa to mention the upcoming launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, later this year. He explained that Nintendo “will prepare enough units to meet demand” not just at launch, but also to make a “head start”. In other words, it should be possible to find a Nintendo Switch 2 in stores not just around launch, but also in the weeks and months following it.
When the Nintendo Switch launched, back in March 2017, Nintendo so badly underestimated demand that in just a month, the console became hard to find in stores, as all the units that had been manufactured were sold in record time. This was a disappointment for many a fan who could not get their hands on a Nintendo Switch for months, but a veritable boon for scummy scalpers.
The company was also forced to resort to air transport (which is far more expensive than sea transport, the gold standard for shipping) in order to ship new units to US retailers as quickly as possible.
Shuntaro Furukawa’s comments seem to indicate that the Nintendo Switch 2 will not be a repeat of the Nintendo Switch. Of course, without knowing the price, launch line-up, and release date, it’s hard to say just how successful the Nintendo Switch 2 will be, but at the very least, it’s fairly safe to say that Nintendo will not be caught with its pants down this time.
What kind of impact the Nintendo Switch 2 will have on Nintendo’s business? It will all become clear in May when Nintendo shares its results for the Full Fiscal Year, and discloses its forecast for the new one (which starts on April 1st, and covers the launch of the Nintendo Switch, officially slated for a 2025 release).
Finally, Shuntaro Furukawa also mentioned the impact US tariffs could have on Nintendo’s business. He explained that Nintendo Switch consoles are manufactured not just in China, but also in Vietnam and Cambodia.
Ever since the current US president first threatened tariffs on goods manufactured in China during its first tenure, Nintendo prepared various contingency plans to anticipate any potential geopolitical risks. That includes the diversification of countries where its consoles are manufactured.
Were additional tariffs imposed on goods manufactured in China, Nintendo is expecting them to have a “certain impact” on Nintendo, though the effect for the current Fiscal Year will be “minimal”. Naturally, Nintendo is monitoring the situation closely and considering an appropriate response.
Source: Nikkei (via Install Base) / Reuters
