We’ve said many times on the Nintendo Entertainment Podcast that the rumors and reports about the upcoming Nintendo Switch Successor likely aren’t going to stop until they’re validated by The Big N themselves. Over the last several weeks, we’ve seen numerous reports about when the Switch’s successor would be announced, when it might launch, and then why it might be getting delayed until 2025. Fast forward to now, and Nikkei is getting in on the action with a new report stating a key reason the delay might be happening.
As noted by VGC (as the Nikkei article has a paywall restriction), they claim that the Nintendo Switch Successor isn’t coming until March 2025 so that they can avoid any significant shortages that may happen during its launch:
“Priority was given to ensure the initial inventory of the successor console and a lineup of software titles at the time of its launch” in an attempt to avoid widespread reselling.
That might sound like an odd concern at first. However, it’s important to remember that the original Switch had PLENTY of shortage issues within its first few months because it blew past expectations that both gamers and Nintendo had. So if they’re trying to ensure the successor’s success, they definitely need to account for potential shortages.
That being said, this is still only a report, and Nikkei has been wrong in the past. So until Nintendo says something about their future system, take everything with a grain of salt.