Highlights
- The Nintendo Switch's successor, dubbed Switch 2, may not hit shelves until March 2025, according to the latest rumors and leaks.
- Delayed launch aims to ensure wider availability at release, learning from previous issues with stock shortages, and scalpers.
- Nintendo's decision to delay the Switch 2 launch could be a strategic move to avoid the stock scarcity issues experienced by other consoles.
With the Nintendo Switch approaching its seventh anniversary, many fans have their attention turned towards what the company's next console might entail and when they can expect it to be released. Although nothing about the successor to the Nintendo Switch has been officially announced, there have been a multitude of rumors and leaks that point towards an official reveal happening sometime this year. However, the latest rumor regarding the Switch 2's launch window suggests that the console has been internally delayed, and is now targeting a release window of March 2025.
In anticipation of the Switch 2's launch, fans have been speculating on features such as the console's hardware specs, the possibility of backward compatibility, and even what Nintendo could have in store for the Switch 2's launch line-up. Signs initially pointed towards the console launching in Fall 2024, but those plans have supposedly changed, with insiders now claiming that March 2025 is the new target for the Switch 2's release. While there could be several different reasons for this delay, such as some of its planned launch titles needing more time in the oven, one bright side to this delay could be that this new console will be more widely available at launch.
Nintendo Franchises That Need Launch Titles on the Switch Successor
New info about the successor to the Nintendo Switch is coming regularly and speculation about potential launch titles comes hand in hand.
The Switch 2’s Delay Could Help Make it More Available at Launch
Nintendo has a controversial history with product scarcity at launch and is notorious for underestimating the demand for some of its most popular products. Longtime Nintendo fans might recall the early days of the Wii's life when it was nearly impossible to find them on store shelves, or how the first few waves of amiibo would almost immediately sell out on launch day. While Nintendo games rarely seem to have this issue, Nintendo's consoles and other collector's items tend to fall prey to stock shortages and scalpers.
The Switch suffered a similar issue when it first launched back in 2017, with scalpers buying out a store's limited stock and then reselling them online for outrageous prices. Despite stock shortages continuing to be an issue for the company, Nintendo may have finally learned its lesson after the success of the Switch and is willing to invest in more initial units to sell at release. With this rumored Switch 2 delay pushing the launch of the console back a few months, Nintendo will have more time to increase its hardware production to ensure the console is widely available on launch day.
New Console Availability Has Plagued the Industry for Too Long
While Nintendo is most infamously associated with stock shortages for their most anticipated products, the gaming industry as a whole has been plagued by this issue for this entire console generation. Players will likely recall the launches of the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S and the abysmal state of these new consoles' stocks, which were overrun by scalpers buying out a store's entire stock for several months after their releases. Part of what caused these consoles to be so scarce was the chip shortage at the time, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in slower manufacturing times for these consoles.
However, now that hardware production has mostly bounced back from the pandemic, a shortage of chips shouldn't be too much of an issue for the Switch 2. Due to this production snafu, Nintendo is likely wary of manufacturing times and the probable levels of demand for their new console and wants to ensure that they can meet the demand when the time comes for the Switch's successor to be released. As such, circumventing this stock issue could have played a role in the decision to delay the console's launch, hopefully meaning that consumers won't have to contend with scalpers when purchasing the Switch 2 on launch day.
Nintendo Switch OLED
Nintendo's newest system features a vibrant 7-inch OLED screen, a wide adjustable stand, a dock with a wired LAN port, 64 GB of internal storage, and enhanced audio. Improvements to visuals, audio, and connectivity make a strong impact on highly detailed gameplay and setup is extremely easy.
- Dimensions
- 2.9 x 6.5 x 7.9 in
- Weight
- 1 lb
- Chipset
- NVIDIA Tegra
- Storage
- 64 GB
