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In a recent announcement, Nintendo has revised its full-year sales forecast for the popular Switch console. The company now expects to sell 15.5 million units, up from the previously projected 15 million units. This increase in forecasted sales can be attributed to the strong performance of the aging console during the year-end shopping season.
Anticipation for New Hardware
With the Switch approaching its eighth year on the market, Reuters noted growing speculation that Nintendo will release new hardware this year. Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa expressed the company's desire to maintain the momentum of the Switch business during an earnings briefing.
Nintendo reported a decline in Switch unit sales for the first nine months of the financial year, selling 13.74 million units, an 8 percent decrease compared to the previous year. However, the console's lifecycle has been extended by the success of hit titles such as "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom" and "Super Mario Bros. Wonder," which have collectively sold over 10 million units.
Channel News Asia reported that following the underwhelming performance of its predecessor, the Wii U, the Switch has become a resounding success for Nintendo. With its various iterations, including the handheld-only Switch Lite and a version with an OLED display, the console's total sales now rank second to the Nintendo DS handheld.
Record Net Profit
Nintendo announced a record net profit of 408 billion yen for April-December. This impressive financial performance highlights the company's continued success in the gaming industry.
Industry experts, such as Serkan Toto, founder of game industry consultancy Kantan Games, anticipate the release of new Switch games in the near future. Given the massive install base of the current model, Nintendo is expected to continue supporting the console. Additionally, Toto predicts the launch of a successor device later this year, with an estimated price point of around $400.
Following the earnings announcement, Nintendo's shares closed down 0.5 percent. However, the company's stock has gained 14 percent year-to-date, indicating positive investor sentiment.
Photo: Alvaro Reyes/Unsplash
