With new ways to play and connect gamers, the long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2 has finally arrived. We consider how the console navigated unprecedented demand and supply chain disruption to set an impressive sales record.
SWITCHED ON
Launched in June, the Nintendo Switch 2 has become Nintendo’s fastest-selling console ever, with over 3.5 million units sold globally in the first four days.
It builds on the success of its predecessor, the Nintendo Switch, which was released in 2017 and has sold over 150 million units, making it the third best-selling console of all time after the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS.
Evidently, gamers around the world are showing their enthusiasm for the Nintendo Switch 2 as an upgraded way to play at home and on the go.
Indeed, the new, more powerful device has a faster processor, 256 gigabytes (GB) of internal storage, and redesigned magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers with mouse functionality.
It additionally has a larger, vivid screen capable of full 1080p high-definition display and 4K when connected to a compatible TV or monitor, as well as more natural, clear, and balanced sound quality, whether playing with the built-in speakers or headphones.
Nintendo Switch 2 gamers can take advantage of these powerful upgrades to processing capability, speed, and graphics performance, with benefits including smoother frame rates, sharper visuals, and faster loading speeds.
The system also debuts GameChat, enabling groups of up to 12 players to voice or video chat and share game screens in real time with friends online, bringing the feeling of playing together in the same room.
The Nintendo Switch 2 launched alongside Mario Kart World, featuring a series-first interconnected world where players can drive virtually anywhere, including across cities, plains, a desert, and even the ocean.
Mario Kart World includes dynamic weather conditions, new game modes, and up to 24 drivers at once – the most in series history.
In July, Donkey Kong Bananza will also be released exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2, allowing players to smash and bash their way through a wild, mayhem-packed action adventure.
DEMAND AND DISRUPTION
Given the record-breaking sales of the Nintendo Switch 2, the supply chain has played a pivotal role amid unprecedented demand, with the company forecasting sales of 15 million units during the current financial year.
Nintendo is strengthening its production capacity to respond to this strong demand and focusing on sales promotion in an effort to exceed the sales forecast.
Its launch was a test of Nintendo’s supply chain management to minimise disruption from US President Donald Trump’s trade war.
Pre-orders in the country were immediately suspended in April after tariffs were imposed on countries in East Asia, including China, which is a significant manufacturing base for the Nintendo Switch 2, and Vietnam, where consoles destined for the US are primarily made.
Despite these tariffs threatening to disrupt global manufacturing costs, the temporary pause on pre-orders in the US enabled Nintendo to maintain the original launch price of USD$449.99, although some accessories such as docks and controller straps did see price increases.
NINTENDO SWITCH 2 FEATURES – WHAT’S NEW?
- GameChat – Lets groups of up to 12 people chat, share screens, and hang out together whilst playing games.
- Screen – The console’s bigger 7.9-inch screen allows players to enjoy smooth gameplay with greater clarity thanks to a high-definition LCD display.
- Dock – Connecting the Nintendo Switch 2 dock to a TV unleashes even greater detail on the big screen.
- Play modes – Enjoy games anytime, anywhere in TV mode, tabletop mode, or handheld mode.
- Stand – The Nintendo Switch 2 can be placed in tabletop mode using a large, stable stand. With 150 degrees of freedom, players can always find a comfortable viewing angle.
- Joy-Con 2 – The new Joy-Con 2 controllers are designed to magnetically attach and detach from the console with ease. The mouse sensor on the side of each controller can also turn surfaces like a table or lap into a mouse pad.
- Performance – Powerful processing and immersive graphics open the door to new ways to play.
- Sound – Games can be enjoyed with more immersive, three-dimensional sound.
- Internal storage – The Nintendo Switch 2 comes with 256GB of internal storage, eight times more than the previous model, for keeping game downloads, save data, and more. The system can also read and write data faster.
