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Nintendo halts Switch shipments in Japan as orders surge

IbizaPocholo

NeoGAFs Kent Brockman

Nintendo has suspended shipments of the Switch game console in Japan as the company became unable to keep up with rising demand due to supply chain disruptions caused by the coronavirus, Nikkei has learned.

No date was given for the shipments to resume. Shipments in the U.S. and Europe, where Nintendo still possesses inventory, will continue as normal.

The Switch is produced by contract manufacturers in China and Vietnam. Operations at their factories have "recovered to a certain point," a Nintendo source said, but have yet to return to full capacity. Nintendo said in early February that shipments of the Switch and certain games were being delayed.

Demand for game consoles has surged in Japan as more people stay home to avoid the coronavirus.

"We haven't been able to keep up the supply," said a source for the Japanese game company.

The Switch now sells for $500 to $700 on certain online platforms, roughly twice its recommended retail price.

About 830,000 Switch and Switch Lite systems were sold between Feb. 24 and March 29, bringing cumulative sales to over 13 million units, according to gaming magazine Famitsu.
 

ultrazilla

Member

Nintendo has suspended shipments of the Switch game console in Japan as the company became unable to keep up with rising demand due to supply chain disruptions caused by the coronavirus, Nikkei has learned.

No date was given for the shipments to resume. Shipments in the U.S. and Europe, where Nintendo still possesses inventory, will continue as normal.

The Switch is produced by contract manufacturers in China and Vietnam. Operations at their factories have "recovered to a certain point," a Nintendo source said, but have yet to return to full capacity. Nintendo said in early February that shipments of the Switch and certain games were being delayed.

Demand for game consoles has surged in Japan as more people stay home to avoid the coronavirus.

"We haven't been able to keep up the supply," said a source for the Japanese game company.

The Switch now sells for $500 to $700 on certain online platforms, roughly twice its recommended retail price.

About 830,000 Switch and Switch Lite systems were sold between Feb. 24 and March 29, bringing cumulative sales to over 13 million units, according to gaming magazine Famitsu.

This right here folks is why Nintendo has been basically silent on Directs.

I think they believe if they announce their first party titles, they can't commit to a street date because of the
disruption from Covid-19 situation.

I don't think they want backlash let's say if they announce "Metroid Prime Trilogy Remaster" give the date say June 26. then the covid situation fucks it up
and they'll be forced to delay the street date.
 

IbizaPocholo

NeoGAFs Kent Brockman

Nintendo insists that more stock is on the way as Switch console supply dries up globally.

The firm issued a note to Japanese customers yesterday stating that only those who had reserved a Switch console (including the new Animal Crossing special edition) would be receiving their units this week. Standard shipping to retailers was not going ahead and there was no information on whether there would be any the following week, either. The firm's official position is that stock shipments have been 'delayed'.

It's a situation that's reflected globally, with the standard Switch console almost entirely sold out across Europe and the US. Sales of Switch games and consoles have plummeted over the past two weeks according to latest figures from GfK and GSD. There is still some availablity of Nintendo Switch Lite.

It's a combination of factors that has led to the scarcity of stock. With the lockdown keeping families in doors, there's been a spike in demand for the hardware. Across many markets, Switch sales jumped by more than 150% during March. However, with distribution and manufacturing severely impeded due to the coronavirus crisis, Nintendo has struggled to resupply. Switch components are largely made in China, which had shut down manufacturing due to the pandemic, although factories are gradually reopening.

A US representative told GamesIndustry.biz: "Nintendo Switch hardware is selling out at various retail locations in the U.S., but more systems are on the way. We apologize for any inconvenience."

We've contacted the UK team for an update on when stock could be expected in this market.

One UK retailer told us that they do have very limited stock of Nintendo Switch Lite, but that the demand for this isn't as high as customers are "after something to play on the TV with their kids". He said that although the limited stock is frustrating, there is evidence that "a lot of people looking for a Switch are instead ordering a PS4 or Xbox One. But even those consoles are in short supply right now."
 

Woopah

Member
This right here folks is why Nintendo has been basically silent on Directs.

I think they believe if they announce their first party titles, they can't commit to a street date because of the
disruption from Covid-19 situation.

I don't think they want backlash let's say if they announce "Metroid Prime Trilogy Remaster" give the date say June 26. then the covid situation fucks it up
and they'll be forced to delay the street date.
I am very curious about Nintendo's original plan for 2020 and what it will end up being. But I guess we will never know.
 
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