Scarcity marked the beginning of the current generation of gaming consoles. It was particularly difficult to get your hands on a PlayStation 5 or an Xbox X Series due to component shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. With the Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon, fans are concerned over whether a similar scarcity issue will occur. However, Nintendo is assuring gamers that there’s no need to worry.
Nintendo Switch 2's for everyone. During a Q&A session with shareholders, a Nintendo executive addressed concerns about resale and speculation resulting from potential console shortages. In response, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa emphasized that the best way to prevent this is to ensure there are enough consoles available for purchase.
Preventing resale issues. As reported by Video Game Chronicle, Furukawa stated that producing an adequate quantity of consoles to meet demand is crucial in preventing resale issues. While there’s still some doubt about this, Nintendo has resolved the production problems it faced in 2021. According to Nintendo’s president, “Last year and the year before, we were unable to produce sufficient quantities of Nintendo Switch hardware due to a shortage of semiconductor components, but this situation has now been resolved.”
He even added, “At present, we do not believe that the shortage of components will have a significant impact on the production of the successor model.”
What happened with the next-gen consoles? It turned out that the pandemic forced people to stay at home, causing factories worldwide, especially in China, to shut down, leading to a shortage of various components. In 2021, former PlayStation president Jim Ryan mentioned, “There are several reasons why PlayStation 5s are currently hard to obtain. Supply was extremely intricate under COVID-19, and distribution had to be online only.”
The impact of the pandemic wasn’t limited to PlayStation. Car manufacturers, graphics card producers, and computer companies, among others, also faced significant challenges. Additionally, the blockage of the Suez Canal by container ship Ever Given in March 2021 further disrupted global transportation. On the other hand, the Nintendo Switch became a popular choice during the pandemic. It became difficult to purchase not only the console itself but also games like Ring Fit Adventure.
The Switch 2 is on the way. Slowly but surely. Nintendo has confirmed that it’s currently in development and that it expects to unveil the console within this fiscal year, which runs until March 2025. It’s likely to be released next year, so for now, we’ll have to wait.
Image | Xataka
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