Enthusiastic gamers queued up on Thursday for the launch of Nintendo’s Switch 2, showcasing strong demand for the next-generation gaming console. The new device, priced at $499.99, features a larger screen and improved graphics while debuting with titles like Mario Kart World.
In Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district, winners of a sales lottery by electronics retailer Bic Camera gathered early to collect their Switch 2 units. Yumi Ohi, a 30-year-old delivery contractor who traveled from nearby Saitama prefecture after missing previous lotteries, expressed her excitement: “I feel like I’m going to cry.”
Since its original launch in 2017, the Nintendo Switch has sold 152 million units and become a cultural phenomenon with hits such as The Legend of Zelda and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Analyst Piers Harding-Rolls of Ampere Analysis expects the large Switch user base to help drive strong initial adoption for the new model. He added that Nintendo appears better prepared to meet demand this time around.
The launch is also a test for Nintendo’s supply chain amid ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions. Nintendo forecast sales of 15 million Switch 2 units this financial year, alongside 4.5 million of the original Switch.
President Shuntaro Furukawa said the company will boost production and focus on sales promotion to surpass these targets. The Switch 2 sales lottery on Nintendo’s Japanese store drew 2.2 million applicants, while pre-orders at Target in the U.S. sold out in under two hours.
Serkan Toto, founder of Kantan Games, warned buyers they might face weeks or months before the console becomes widely available in stores. Investor enthusiasm is high, with Nintendo shares up 28% year-to-date despite a recent 2% dip.
However, some analysts caution that casual gamers might wait to see how the Switch 2’s game library expands beyond launch titles. Ampere forecasts sales exceeding 100 million units by 2030.
The launch also sparked debate over game pricing, with Mario Kart World priced at $79.99 in the U.S. Longtime gamer Akitomo Takahashi, 40s, considered this reasonable given historical game prices and looks forward to playing Elden Ring on the new console.