If the Switch 2 sales forecast is so low, it's for this very reason

The Switch 2 is already shaping up to be a huge commercial success. However, Nintendo is setting modest sales targets for its first year. This is due to a very specific factor that has nothing to do with the global economic situation.

When a new game console is announced, expectations are often very high. In the case of the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, the pressure is even greater since the first version sold more than 130 million copies worldwide. Analysts were therefore hoping for ambitious forecasts from Nintendo. However, the Japanese firm is aiming for only 15 million units sold for its first fiscal year.

This figure was deemed “conservative” by many observers, some attributing it to the uncertainty surrounding US taxes. But Nintendo quickly denied this hypothesis. During a question-and-answer session with its investors, president Shuntaro Furukawa explained that this choice was mainly due to the console’s high price. The Switch 2 is indeed priced at €469.99, a price much higher than that of the first generation at launch. Nintendo is banking on game bundles to offset the Switch 2's high price. According to Shuntaro Furukawa, this higher price could slow adoption in the first few months. To limit this effect, Nintendo plans to offer bundles that include both the console and games from launch. The goal is to replicate the successful launch of the first Switch by encouraging more players to take the plunge quickly. He also clarified that production was not a hindrance, and that neither US tariffs nor global economic risks had weighed on sales forecasts.

Nintendo acknowledges that demand for pre-orders is strong, but remains cautious about the long-term. Even with a good launch, maintaining the pace through the holiday season and beyond will be a challenge. The president also hinted that price adjustments could be considered later, depending on how the context evolves. For now, the priority is clear: quickly establishing a large user base for the Switch 2, Nintendo's first new dedicated system in eight years.