According to a report by Sam Nussey from TOKYO (Reuters), Nintendo has officially announced the release date for the highly anticipated Switch 2. Set to hit the market on June 5, this next-gen successor to the popular home-portable gaming device will be priced at $449.99.
The upcoming Switch 2 boasts a larger and improved screen, along with a new mouse function. In the United States, it will be available for $449.99, while in Japan, the pricing will be set at 49,980 yen ($334.09) for the Japanese language variant and 69,980 yen for the multi-language edition.
Serkan Toto, the founder of Kantan Games consultancy, noted that the pricing was slightly higher than anticipated. Despite this, the market response is expected to be robust, given the success of the original Switch, which has sold over 150 million units and gained popularity with iconic game franchises like “Super Mario” and “The Legend of Zelda.”
Anticipation for the Switch 2 is high, with Jefferies analyst Atul Goyal expressing confidence in strong consumer demand post-launch. Notable game titles in the lineup include the highly-anticipated “Mario Kart World.”
Since its debut in March 2017 at $299.99, the Switch has been a game-changer for Nintendo, revitalizing the company’s performance following the lackluster sales of the Wii U. Investors are keeping a close eye on hardware supply, as previous disruptions had impacted sales.
Goldman Sachs analyst Minami Munakata predicts that Nintendo aims to ship over 10 million units in the first year, based on their current progress. Amidst global trade tensions, the gaming industry is evolving, with trends like subscription services and console compatibility influencing consumer preferences.
The upcoming launch of the Switch 2 follows a successful period for Nintendo, with shares reaching new highs and showing a more than 10% increase year-to-date. However, market strategist Amir Anvarzadeh of Asymmetric Advisors remains cautious about the stock’s valuation and the potential impact of the new hardware on Nintendo’s share price.
