Nintendo president apologizes for Switch 2 price, promises strong game lineup
▼ Summary
– Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa announced a worldwide price increase for the Switch 2, with a $50 rise in the U.S. and changes starting in September, or as early as this month in Japan.
– Furukawa stated Nintendo will prepare a strong software lineup to enhance the Switch 2’s ownership value and overcome the price barrier.
– He apologized to consumers for the inconvenience, explaining that rising costs made the increase necessary, though the new pricing does not cover all cost increases.
– The second-year sales forecast for the Switch 2 is lower than the first year because supply chain efforts led to unprecedented first-year sales, but demand remains firm.
– Additional price changes include cost increases for Japan, such as for Nintendo Switch Online.
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has addressed the company’s strategy following today’s announcement of a price hike for the Switch 2, acknowledging the burden on consumers while pledging a strong software lineup to justify the cost.
The console’s price will increase globally, with a $50 rise in the U. S. and adjustments rolling out mostly in September, though Japan will see changes as early as this month. During a financial results briefing, Furukawa stated that Nintendo “will prepare a robust software lineup to enhance the Switch 2 ownership value. We will work diligently to overcome this barrier.”
He also offered a direct apology to customers, saying: “We sincerely apologize to our customers for the considerable inconvenience and trouble this will cause. While we wanted to prioritize a wide adoption, it was challenging to bear the rising costs over a long period. The [new] pricing does not fully account for all cost increases.”
When asked why the second-year sales forecast for the Switch 2 is lower than the first, Furukawa explained that supply chain improvements drove first-year sales to “an unprecedented level.” He added that demand in the second year remains strong and that adoption is progressing smoothly.
For a full breakdown of worldwide price changes, including additional increases for Japan and Nintendo Switch Online, check our detailed coverage.
(Source: Nintendoeverything.com)
