Industry analysts have great expectations for the next Nintendo console, predicting it will sell as many as 15 million units its first year.
The Nintendo Switch 2 saw its first official teaser today, although a full Nintendo Direct won’t happen until April. The company hopes to outsell the original Switch, but given that it has sold 147 million units since 2017 — with a large boost of sales during the lockdown — that’s going to be tough to do.
But it’s possible, especially with an existing base of at least 105 million users, according to analyst George Jijiashvili. He says the most important factor in the success of the Switch 2 is the transition period. “However, the biggest challenge will be managing the transition effectively — convincing users to upgrade to the Switch 2 while ensuring those sticking with the original Switch remain supported and engaged,” he told us.
Recommended Videos Since the news broke earlier today, many fans have questioned the naming scheme. The Nintendo Switch 2 sounds rather uninspired versus other suggested names like “Super Nintendo Switch,” but it’s straightforward.
Nintendo wanted to avoid another Wii U situation, where many shoppers just thought the Wii U was an upgrade, not a new console.