Nintendo looks unlikely to release a new console this year as ongoing supply issues disrupt production of its current hardware.
After the launch of the Nintendo Switch and its sequel the Nintendo Switch OLED, fans were eager to see an improved version of the console on the shelves. However, the likelihood of the rumored Nintendo Switch Pro being released in the coming months seems slim as Nintendo continues to struggle with an ongoing global chip shortage.
As described by Nikkei (opens in new tab) In a new report, the video game giant is struggling to source the necessary components and semiconductors needed to build its consoles. “Normally, we stock up in the summer to prepare for the peak sales season at the end of the year,” Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said (translated by Google). He added that he is not sure whether the company can currently obtain the necessary manufacturing components.
Nikkei suggests that due to insufficient quantities of Switches being produced, Nintendo is unlikely to announce a new model until the end of the fiscal year (March 2023). Instead, it will try to do what it can with its current hardware to meet its aggressive sales goals.
There aren’t enough semiconductors to go around
Furukawa doesn’t sound too sure about either side of this. “I’m not optimistic if they ask me if I can sell it all, even if I can produce the amount I expected,” he said. Don’t expect the Switch Pro to appear anytime soon, and prepare for an even longer wait as global semiconductor supply issues continue to disrupt the industry.
Regardless of the production issues, Nintendo may not be rushing to replace the current Switch models. According GamesIndustry.biz (opens in new tab), the Nintendo Switch is the best-selling home console Nintendo has ever made. It will be keen to squeeze as much value out of the hardware as possible and not let the console die before its time.
This is disappointing news for fans desperate for an upgrade, although there are plenty of upcoming games the system will be excited about. When the Nintendo Switch Pro or Nintendo Switch 2 finally rears its head, some fans believe it only needs to make a few changes to be great.
