
Gamers Flock to Stores as Nintendo Launches Highly Anticipated Switch 2
Gaming enthusiasts across Japan turned out in droves on Thursday for the long-awaited launch of Nintendo's next-generation console, the Switch 2, signaling massive demand for the upgraded gaming experience.
In Tokyo's bustling Ikebukuro shopping district, a line of eager gamers – all successful applicants of Bic Camera's sales lottery – formed well before the store's opening, waiting patiently to get their hands on the coveted device.
'The level of demand seems to be sky-high,' noted Serkan Toto, founder of Kantan Games consultancy. The buzz comes after months of anticipation and speculation over Nintendo's follow-up to its wildly popular original Switch console.
Packed with enhanced performance capabilities, the Switch 2 is seen as Nintendo's answer to an evolving gaming landscape that demands more power, sharper graphics, and seamless gameplay. The company has already pledged to increase production capacity to meet the overwhelming interest.
Industry analysts are predicting a blockbuster performance for the new console. A recent report by a leading research firm projects that Switch 2 sales could surpass 100 million units by 2030, cementing Nintendo's status as a dominant force in the global gaming market.
As the lines of excited fans prove, the future of console gaming is looking bright—and Nintendo is ready to play.

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Gulf Insider
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Switch 2 Becomes Fastest-Selling Console Ever
Goldman Sachs gaming analysts Minami Munakata and Haruki Kubota were spot on in forecasting the explosive popularity of Nintendo's newly released Switch 2, which shattered records with millions of units in sales in just four days. Nintendo wrote on X late Tuesday night that it sold over 3.5 million Switch 2 consoles in just four days, surpassing the original Switch's first-month sales of 2.7 million back in 2017. Switch 2 has become 'the fastest-selling Nintendo hardware ever globally,' the Japanese gaming company said. This strong sales momentum sets a strong pace toward the company's goal of 15 million units sold by March 2026. #NintendoSwitch2 has sold over 3.5 million units worldwide in its first four days, becoming the fastest-selling Nintendo hardware ever globally. — Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) June 11, 2025 'We believe sales are tracking above our shipment assumption of 3.9 mn units in the April-June 2025 quarter, and also above the initial sales pace for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 (Exhibit 1, Exhibit 3),' Munakata wrote in a note to clients earlier. Exhibit 1 Exhibit 3 The analysts also highlight a robust third-party game pipeline and a premium price of $79.99 for Mario Kart World as key drivers of stronger revenue… We focus in particular on the strong pipeline of third-party titles for the Nintendo Switch 2 (in terms of both quantity and quality), and the higher selling price for the new Mario Kart World title (US$79.99), which is above prices for previous titles in the series. We expect to see an increase in per-console revenues (from content, services, peripherals, etc.) in the transition from the Nintendo Switch to the Nintendo Switch 2, similar to that seen in the transition from the PS4 to the PS5. Our FY3/26 operating profit estimate is 15% above the Bloomberg consensus. As seen during the PS4/PS5 transition, we believe Nintendo can maintain and expand user engagement, allowing it to secure higher margins from the first year of the successor console launch compared with the previous console launch (see our report here). We make no changes to our earnings estimates or our 12-month target price of ¥14,500, and we maintain our Buy rating. Here's the third-party game pipeline: Nintendo shares in Tokyo have hovered near ¥12,000 over the past six weeks, with upward momentum showing signs of exhaustion. Click here to read more Also read: AI Is Taking Thousands Of Jobs; Is Yours At Risk?


Daily Tribune
09-06-2025
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Gamers get hold of Nintendo's hotly awaited Switch 2
AFP | Tokyo Gamers finally got their hands on Nintendo's new Switch 2 on Thursday, the console that could score record early sales for the Japanese "Super Mario" creator. The device, which features a bigger screen and more processing power, is an upgrade to the Switch that became a global phenomenon with hit games such as "Animal Crossing". The original Switch has sold 152 million units since its 2017 release, making it the thirdbest-selling console ever. Consoles were still on the shelves at a central Paris electronics store by early afternoon Thursday, defying concerns of stock running out. "I'm not surprised, people planned ahead with pre-orders," said Benoit Martins, 29, a construction project manager. He said he had been waiting "for months" to pick up his own new console -- but did not turn out at midnight to secure it at the moment of release, as several dozen French fans had. In Tokyo, there had been no Switch 2's available without preorders when stores opened Thursday morning. Lei Wang, 24, a recent graduate from China, said he had been "shocked" to win a preorder lottery as he queued to collect his device. "It's basically just me who got picked... so I don't really want to say anything" to less lucky friends, he said with a laugh. Shinichi Sekiguchi, 31, said he was so excited he forgot to bring his phone, while 33-year-old Kuro said she had taken a day off work to use her new console. "The improved graphics and the ability to play with a larger group -- I think that's a big deal," she said. Serkan Toto from Tokyo consultancy Kantan Games said he "would not be surprised to see Switch 2 breaking sales records in the next weeks and months". Nintendo's online store had 2.2 million pre-order applications for the Switch 2 in Japan -- an "insane number the industry has never seen before", Toto told AFP. Worth the price? The Switch 2 has eight times the memory of the first Switch and its controllers, which attach with magnets, can also be used like a desktop computer mouse. New functions allowing users to chat as they play online and temporarily share games with friends could also be a big draw for young audiences used to watching game streamers. However, Nintendo has its work cut out to match the overall success of the original. Challenges include uncertainty over US trade tariffs and whether it can convince enough people to pay the high price for its new device. The Switch 2 costs $449.99 in the United States, more than the original's launch price of $299.99. Both are hybrid consoles that can connect to a TV or be played on the go. New Switch 2 games such as "Donkey Kong Bananza" and "Mario Kart World" -- which allows players to go exploring off-grid -- are also more expensive than existing titles. "After playing it, I think it's worth the price," Steven Paterno, a 24-year-old aspiring filmmaker, told AFP at a Nintendo launch event in New York City. He had been waiting outside the Rockefeller Center's Nintendo store for a month and a half, part of a group of around 20 die-hard fans desperate to be first in line. "I loved the original Switch, but I had to admit the Switch 2 really tops it," Paterno said.


Daily Tribune
05-06-2025
- Daily Tribune
Gamers Flock to Stores as Nintendo Launches Highly Anticipated Switch 2
Gaming enthusiasts across Japan turned out in droves on Thursday for the long-awaited launch of Nintendo's next-generation console, the Switch 2, signaling massive demand for the upgraded gaming experience. In Tokyo's bustling Ikebukuro shopping district, a line of eager gamers – all successful applicants of Bic Camera's sales lottery – formed well before the store's opening, waiting patiently to get their hands on the coveted device. 'The level of demand seems to be sky-high,' noted Serkan Toto, founder of Kantan Games consultancy. The buzz comes after months of anticipation and speculation over Nintendo's follow-up to its wildly popular original Switch console. Packed with enhanced performance capabilities, the Switch 2 is seen as Nintendo's answer to an evolving gaming landscape that demands more power, sharper graphics, and seamless gameplay. The company has already pledged to increase production capacity to meet the overwhelming interest. Industry analysts are predicting a blockbuster performance for the new console. A recent report by a leading research firm projects that Switch 2 sales could surpass 100 million units by 2030, cementing Nintendo's status as a dominant force in the global gaming market. As the lines of excited fans prove, the future of console gaming is looking bright—and Nintendo is ready to play.