By Yuhei Matsumoto and Chika Nakayama / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers

Nintendo Co. on Thursday released its new game console, the Nintendo Switch 2. Applications for sales lotteries at the official online store and major retailers have flooded in, and console shortages are expected to continue for some time.

New features

At the Ikebukuro Main Store of major electronic retailer Bic Camera Inc. in Tokyo's Toshima Ward, about 30 sales lottery winners were waiting outside the store even before it opened at 10 a.m. "I took time off work to pick it up," said a 45-year-old company employee from Saitama City. "My elementary school-age children are really looking forward to it, so we'll all play together when I get home."

The store also held a Switch 2 experience event. A 21-year-old university student from Funabashi in Chiba Prefecture said, "The graphics are beautiful, and the characters move more smoothly."

The Switch 2 is Nintendo's first new console in eight years. It features a new way to play, with the controller able to be used like a computer mouse, as well as a "GameChat" feature that allows players to communicate with each other remotely without the need for additional devices.

The portable LCD (liquid-crystal display) screen is somewhat larger than that of the original Switch and has higher-resolution images. The suggested retail price for the Japanese market version is 49,980 yen, including tax. A new entry in the popular game series "Mario Kart" was released at the same time as the console, and the latest additions to series such as "Donkey Kong" and "Kirby's Dream Land" will be released in the future.

Measures against resale

Nintendo has taken serious measures against buying up the console for resale, an issue that was widespread when the original Switch was released in 2017. The official website's sales lottery requires applicants to meet conditions such as having played the original Switch for a certain amount of time. The company is also collaborating with flea market site operators, such as Mercari Inc., to monitor unauthorized listings.

Nintendo plans to sell 15 million Switch 2 units worldwide in the first fiscal year, roughly the same pace as the original Switch. Although domestic sales plans have not been disclosed, a major retailer said, "Demand is very strong, and it will likely be available only through lottery sales for some time."

Anticipating a sales boost from the Switch 2, Nintendo projects sales of 1.9 trillion yen for the fiscal year ending March 2026, a 63.1% increase from the previous fiscal year. The company also projects a net profit of 300 billion yen, a 7.6% increase.

However, amid a growing sense of scarcity, Switch 2 listings have appeared on flea market sites despite efforts to address reselling, prompting complaints on social media. Moving forward, a key focus will be whether Nintendo can overcome challenges, such as those in accelerating production, strengthening anti-resale measures and enhancing the popular games it has on offer, to turn the Switch 2 into a hit.

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This article is from The Yomiuri Shimbun. Neither Dow Jones Newswires, MarketWatch, Barron's nor The Wall Street Journal were involved in the creation of this content.

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June 06, 2025 11:26 ET (15:26 GMT)

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