If that’s the current trend in gaming, however, Nintendo is certainly bucking it. The NES Classic sold out near instantly across locations worldwide, and there has been a similar demand for the company’s newest console/handheld hybrid in Nintendo Switch, with many gamers becoming vocally frustrated over being unable to pre-order the new device. Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime doesn’t believe that the Switch is being under-produced, however, stating:
According to GameSpot, who conducted the interview, Fils-Aime also restated that there will be 2 million Switch units available worldwide for launch in March. Given that most online retailers have already sold out of the Switch, however, it appears that Nintendo might have under-estimated what the demand would be for the Switch at launch.
Fils-Aime defended how many units would be available, however, stating that 2 million was a “huge amount” of volume for any console release, especially when the release date isn’t during the holiday season. It’s possible, though, that Nintendo also under-estimated how the Switch would be received after poor performances from the Wii U both at launch and long-term. If that’s the case, the difference between that console and the Switch could be the Switch’s strong games line-up, which includes a day-one launch of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Even if availability becomes something of an issue for Nintendo, it is a good problem to have - it has been a while since gamers were this excited for a major Nintendo product, and if the Switch lives up to the hype it has managed to generate over the past few days, that excitement will be well-deserved.
Nintendo Switch will launch on March 3, 2017.
