Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Draws Massive Crowds and High Demand
- tech360.tv
- Jun 6
- 2 min read
Gamers across Japan lined up early Thursday to get their hands on the newly released Nintendo Switch 2, as excitement surged for the next-generation console.
In Tokyo’s Ikebukuro shopping district, dozens of fans who won a sales lottery by electronics retailer Bic Camera queued before opening hours to collect their devices.
“I feel like I’m going to cry,” said Yumi Ohi, a 30-year-old delivery contractor from Saitama prefecture, who had previously missed out in other lotteries.
The Switch 2, priced at USD 499.99, features a larger screen and improved graphics while retaining similarities with its predecessor. It launched with titles including “Mario Kart World.”
Nintendo has sold 152 million units of the original Switch since its 2017 debut, driven by hits like “The Legend of Zelda” series and “Animal Crossing: New Horizons.”
Piers Harding-Rolls, analyst at Ampere Analysis, said the larger existing user base should lead to stronger early adoption. He added that Nintendo is better prepared to handle demand this time.
Nintendo received 2.2 million applications for its Switch 2 sales lottery on its My Nintendo Store in Japan. Pre-orders at Target in the U.S. sold out in under two hours.
“You are looking at weeks or months until you can walk into a store and buy a Switch 2,” said Serkan Toto, founder of Kantan Games consultancy.
Nintendo has forecast sales of 15 million Switch 2 units and 4.5 million original Switch units for the current financial year.
President Shuntaro Furukawa said the company will boost production capacity and focus on sales promotion to exceed its forecast.
Investor expectations remain high, with Nintendo shares up 28% this year despite a 2% dip on Thursday.
Some analysts caution that momentum may slow after early adopters upgrade. Harding-Rolls noted that the launch lineup of first-party games may not be strong enough to attract casual users immediately.
Ampere forecasts Switch 2 sales to surpass 100 million units by 2030.
“Mario Kart World” carries a U.S. price tag of USD 79.99, sparking debate over rising game costs.
Akitomo Takahashi, a salesman in his forties, said he was eager to play “Elden Ring” on the new console. “I've been around since the era of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and games from (that period) were expensive too so I think it's somewhat within the acceptable range,” he said.
Nintendo Switch 2 launched Thursday with high demand and long queues
The console features a larger screen, improved graphics, and new titles
Nintendo received 2.2 million lottery applications in Japan alone
Source: REUTERS
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