Nintendo seems unlikely to release a new console this year as ongoing supply issues disrupt production of its current hardware.
With the launch of the Nintendo Switch and its successor, the Nintendo Switch OLED, fans have been eager to see an enhanced version of the console hit store shelves. But speculating that the Nintendo Switch Pro will be released in the next few months seems unlikely as Nintendo continues to grapple with an ongoing global chip shortage.
as outlined Nikkei (opens in new tab) In a new report, the video game giant is working to source the necessary components and semiconductors needed to make its consoles. “Normally, we stock up in the summer to prepare for the year-end sales season,” said Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa (translated by Google). He added that he is not sure the company can currently obtain the necessary manufacturing parts.
Nikkei said Nintendo is unlikely to announce any new models before the end of the current fiscal year (March 2023) given the insufficient number of Switches already in production. Instead, it will seek to use its current hardware to do what it can to achieve its aggressive sales targets.
Not enough semiconductors to move around
Furukawa doesn’t sound like he has a lot of confidence in either. “If someone asks me if I can sell all of them, I’m not optimistic, even if I can produce the volume I expect,” he said. Don’t expect the Switch Pro to appear anytime soon, and prepare for parity. The wait is even longer as global semiconductor supply issues continue to disrupt the industry.
Regardless of the production issues, Nintendo may be in no rush to replace the current Switch models.according to GamesIndustry.biz (opens in new tab), Nintendo Switch is the best-selling home console ever produced by Nintendo. It will be keen to squeeze as much value out of the hardware as possible, rather than letting the console go out of business before its time.
This is disappointing news for any fans eagerly awaiting the upgrade, although there are plenty of upcoming games to get the system excited. When the Nintendo Switch Pro or Nintendo Switch 2 finally got its head back, some fans thought it just needed a few changes to be great.
