Nintendo doesn’t count on to launch any new or upgraded Switch {hardware} within the coming monetary yr, set to finish on 31st March 2024.
That’s in response to Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa, who spoke with traders this morning following the corporate’s most up-to-date monetary outcomes (by way of Bloomberg).
The Switch has now handed its {hardware} gross sales peak, with console gross sales down 22 p.c over the previous 12 months. Nintendo forecasts an extra fall over the approaching yr.
And, maybe extra curiously, Nintendo has now stated this {hardware} cargo quantity won’t embrace any brand-new Switch alternative, or a beefier Switch improve.
Indeed, video games business analyst Piers Harding-Rolls of Ampere Analysis instructed me immediately he expects new Switch {hardware} coming on the finish of 2024, quite than the beginning.
“There is still some life in the Switch platform yet,” Harding-Rolls instructed Eurogamer. “I count on the brand new Zelda to drive {hardware} gross sales to these upgrading from older variations to the most recent OLED mannequin and possibly from some fully new Switch consumers. That will assist Nintendo attain its 15m cargo goal for the yr ending March ’24. Software gross sales stay fairly strong particularly for first-party titles.
“Ampere expects a next-gen Nintendo console to be launched in late 2024.’
Switch is now coming into its seventh yr on sale, however whereas {hardware} gross sales are dropping quick, the console continues to shift video games and generate profits from its subscription service.
Nintendo is now reaping the rewards of the Switch’s huge set up base, with 22m copies of final yr’s Pokémon Scarlet and Violet shifted.
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom launches final week, and can possible supply some type of post-launch enlargement programme, akin to Breath of the Wild.
Nintendo additionally has DLC plans for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Pokémon nonetheless to run for the subsequent 12 months, too.
So, able to pop Switch 2 in your 2024 Christmas checklist?