The U.S. supply of the Switch 2 is expected to be able to meet consumer demand throughout 2025, a senior Nintendo official said. The forecast is encouraging news for stateside fans who were fearful of Switch 2 shortages and scalpers.
Although temporary shortages are not unusual for infrequently released consumer electronics, Nintendo experienced more pronounced supply issues than most manufacturers during the previous console generation. The Switch faced two significant shortages in the United States; the first occurred at launch in 2017, as the demand for the console vastly exceeded Nintendo’s stateside supply of approximately 2 million units in the first month. Availability didn’t improve until July 2017, with Nintendo deeming the Switch launch shortages so bad it even issued a formal apology. Three years later, the demand for the console once again surged and surpassed its U.S. supply amid the nationwide work-from-home mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Given this track record, some industry analysts and fans have expressed concerns about Nintendo’s ability to meet demand for its upcoming console, particularly after early Switch 2 pre-orders immediately sold out across the country in late April 2025. Looking to assuage these worries, Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser recently offered an encouraging forecast, insisting that history won’t repeat itself with the Switch 2. “As we look at our plans here in the U.S., we do believe we’ll have production and supply that will allow us to meet consumer demand,” the executive told IGN.
Elaborating on this point, Bowser referenced Nintendo’s most recent financial report, which includes a forecast of 15 million Switch 2 units sold globally during fiscal year 2026, which ends on March 31. The projection suggests the company expects the console to perform comparably to its predecessor, while also being better positioned to meet demand from a supply standpoint.
Switch 2 Might Have Already Released If Nintendo Wasn’t Concerned About Shortages
In early 2024, Japanese outlet Nikkei reported that Nintendo was prepared to delay the then-unannounced Switch 2 indefinitely until it could ensure that its supply chain would meet the early demand for the console. The claim implies that the Switch successor might have already launched had Nintendo not been concerned about potential shortages, particularly given widespread reports indicating that mass production started as early as late September 2024.
As we look at our plans here in the U.S., we do believe we’ll have production and supply that will allow us to meet consumer demand.
Nintendo’s much-anticipated console is scheduled for release on June 5, priced at $449.99 in the U.S. A $499.99 bundle including Mario Kart World will also be available. Separately, the 90-day suspension of reciprocal tariffs previously announced by the Trump administration is set to expire on July 9. Unless Washington reaches a trade agreement with Vietnam—where many U.S.-bound Switch 2 units are assembled—by then, the console could be subject to a price hike afterward.
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Source: https://gamerant.com/nintendo-switch-2-supply-chain-shipments-inventory-forecast/
