Nintendo’s Hardware and Software Sales Plummet Amid Competition

Nintendo has released its financial results for the nine months ending December 31, and they make for worrying reading. The company’s Switch 1 console sales have plummeted by 30.6% year-on-year, while Switch 1 software sales have dropped by a staggering 24.4%. In a statement, Nintendo cited tough comparisons with 2023 and the launch of new games as major contributing factors to the decline.

Aging Hardware Struggles to Keep Up

While sales of the aging Switch 1 have been falling for years, Nintendo’s latest results are worse than previously forecast. The impact of a weaker US dollar exchange rate and Switch 1’s disappointing performance have forced Nintendo to lower its expectations for the remainder of the financial year. The company now forecasts a net sales decrease of 7% and a net profit drop of 10% compared to the previous financial year.

New Releases Try to Revitalize the Market

But it’s not all doom and gloom for Nintendo. New releases like The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, which sold a respectable 3.91 million copies, and Super Mario Party Jamboree, which shifted an impressive 6.17 million copies, have attempted to inject some life into the market. The ever-popular Mario Kart 8 Deluxe continues to sell well, with another 5.38 million copies sold in the last nine months of 2024, bringing its total to 67.35 million units sold.

Switch 2’s Impact Will Be Critical

The lack of notable Switch 1 software releases on the horizon raises questions about how many more units the console can sell. While the Switch 2 is set to launch eventually, the release date and pricing are still unknown. With Switch 1 struggling to compete, it’s imperative that Nintendo gets its next console right to keep pace with its competitors.

In the meantime, fans will be keeping a close eye on Nintendo’s future plans and hoping for a resurgence in Switch 1 sales.