Nintendo Switch Sales Decline: Furukawa Addresses Forecast Amid Switch 2 Anticipation

Nintendo Switch Sales Decline: Furukawa Addresses Forecast Amid Switch 2 Anticipation Nintendo has reached yet another impressive milestone with its flagship hybrid console: the Nintendo Switch has now surpassed 150 million units sold worldwide.

However, as revealed in Nintendo's recent FY2025 quarterly financial update released on February 4, 2025, this remarkable achievement comes at a time of slowing momentum and lowered sales forecasts for the Switch hardware family. The latest report, covering results through December 2024, marks the second consecutive quarter in which Nintendo has trimmed its hardware sales forecast.

This downturn coincides with an industry-wide conversation regarding the expected arrival of Nintendo's next-generation console, widely referred to as the Switch 2.

With excitement building for the Switch successor confirmed to launch later this year, some analysts have attributed waning interest in the original Switch to consumer anticipation of new hardware.

Yet, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa offered a nuanced perspective following the financial release.

As communicated to investors and reported by Japanese publication The Sankei Shimbun, Furukawa explained that while there may be some impact from players waiting for the next console, the principal driver behind the declining figures is the natural lifecycle of the aging platform.

“We don’t believe the effect of customers postponing purchases due to the upcoming Switch 2 is substantial,” Furukawa stated.

“It’s been a solid eighth year for the Nintendo Switch, but we have not reached our targets.” Furukawa also reassured stakeholders that sales of the current Switch model would continue for as long as there is market demand.

This means Nintendo fans can expect the original Switch to remain available in stores, even as enthusiasm shifts towards the imminent Switch 2 launch.

The Switch’s platform, now nearing its ninth year, is seeing a steeper sales decline than in previous years, partly attributed to a lighter release schedule for new titles in 2024 compared to 2023. Since its release in March 2017, the Nintendo Switch has become one of the best-selling gaming systems in history, trailing only behind select legacy platforms like Sony’s PlayStation 2.

With continued support through first-party releases and the robust Nintendo eShop, the Switch family—including the Switch Lite and Switch OLED Model—continues to attract new users. The path forward for Nintendo and its dedicated fanbase is clear: as anticipation mounts for the official unveiling of the Switch 2, scheduled for the next Nintendo Direct on April 2, 2025, the company remains committed to supporting both its existing and future platforms.

Furukawa’s clear stance aims to instill confidence in investors and keep the Switch legacy vibrant, even as the gaming world eagerly awaits Nintendo’s next big move.

Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch 2 Switch Shuntaro Furukawa Nintendo Switch