The Switch 2 edges ever closer (Nintendo)
An insider claims to have shipment details for Nintendo’s next console, as the company looks to combat stock shortages of the Switch 2.
Nintendo’s successor to the Switch is set to be announced before next April, but there have been many reports that it is already in production – which is perfectly believable.
A semiconductor company previously claimed the next Switch, dubbed the Switch 2 by fans, started production in September, which would make sense in order to have enough units ready for a launch next year.
A new rumour has now given more insight into the console’s shipping plans, suggesting there’ll be considerably more Switch 2 units available at launch in comparison to the original Switch in 2017.
This comes from insider ninspider, who posted alleged drawings of the Switch 2 last month, which were subsequently corroborated by others.
In a new post on Famiboards, they shared encrypted text which was quickly decoded through Base64. The decrypted text claims the ‘initial stock quantity’ for the Switch 2 has been ‘finalised’, and the ‘factory will plan production accordingly’.
The text adds: ‘I can’t disclose the exact number, but for the US market alone, it’s roughly 2.5 times the volume from March 2017.’
The original Switch sold 2.74 million units worldwide within its first month on sale, so if we assume the above US shipment comparison extends to worldwide unit numbers, the overall figure could be around 6.8 to 7 million consoles at launch.
This huge number would certainly be in line with Nintendo’s comments on how it intends to counter scalpers by simply making more consoles.
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa reassured investors that the component shortage, which impacted the Switch’s supply over the past two years, has been ‘resolved’ and shouldn’t affect ‘the production of the successor model’.
While it’s worth taking this information with a pinch of salt, Nintendo is no doubt anticipating huge demand for its next console, considering both the age and success of the Switch. Recently, Nintendo announced that over 146 million Switch consoles have been sold worldwide, making it the third most successful console of all time (behind the DS and PlayStation 2).
As for what we can expect from the new machine, the only thing Nintendo has confirmed is that it will be backwards compatible with current Switch software. According to various leaks, it will also sport magnetic Joy-Cons and a larger screen.
Don’t worry, you can play Super Mario Party Jamboree on Switch 2 (Nintendo)
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