Gaming powerhouse Nintendo’s president has confirmed that the announcement timeline for the highly-anticipated Switch 2 remains unaltered and is set to be released by March 2025. This comes in the wake of a significant dip in the sales of the current Switch console. Nintendo’s most recent financial assessment showed a 31% drop in sales of the console in the three months leading up to September 2024.
Nintendo attributes this deceleration in sales partially to the phenomenal success achieved in the previous year with the launch of strong draws including The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Nevertheless, the company has been compelled to adjust its sales and revenue anticipations downward for the ongoing financial year.
The Switch console, currently in its eighth year in the market, is witnessing dwindling sales, increasing anticipation for the unveiling of its successor. Both ardent fans and zealous investors are awaiting news of the successor. However, it’s clear that Nintendo is committed to holding on to the suspense a little bit longer.
An online press conference saw Nintendo’s president Shuntaro Furukawa leaving no room for doubt by stating that there was “no change” to the company’s declaration to unveil the successor console by the end of the current financial year in March 2025. This continued stance from the Japanese entertainment firm means that any announcement in 2024 is unlikely.
Hideki Yasuda, an analyst from Toyo Securities, had reasoned that announcing a new console during the critically important year-end sale period might divert the customers’ attention, making it a difficult choice. So if you are eagerly waiting for an upcoming Nintendo announcement by the end of this year, one might receive updates on a peculiar alarm clock or a music application rather than the sought-after new console.
What does this mean for avid Switch fans? The build-up of excitement and eagerness for the Switch 2 continues. In the meanwhile, they can brush up on everything currently known about the upcoming console. The announcement from Nintendo is in line with their classic game plan that intensifies anticipation and has the marketplace at the edge of its seat.
The inherently strategic approach of not making any reveal in the middle of a crucial shopping season is indicative of the importance Nintendo places on its existing products while preparing for future launches. With March 2025 set as the deadline for the announcement of the Switch 2, there’s no telling when precisely the much-awaited announcement will happen.
Nevertheless, one thing remains clear as daylight — Nintendo as a company has an uncanny knack of keeping its enthusiasts hanging on every word, every reveal, and every product launch. This methodology has blended perfectly well with their branding strategy over the years.
However, it’s worth noting that as the Switch sales decrease and the speculation about the next console escalates, the pressure starts mounting on Nintendo to make the next big move. How the company tackles this situation and capitalizes, or perhaps even utilizes this high anticipation to its advantage in its future product launch, is something that all eyes are on. So while the world waits for the next big reveal, it can indulge in guessing games or enjoy the current games in Nintendo’s rich and diverse portfolio.
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