The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera allows users to video chat with their friends and can also be used to unlock in-game AR features. (Image credit: Nintendo)
Nintendo will sell 14.7 million units of the Switch 2 console in its first year, the research firm Omdia predicted Wednesday, shortly after the Japanese company wrapped up its Direct event, providing an insight into how the new console may perform in the market.
The research firm said the Switch 2 will surpass its predecessor’s first-year sales by 10 per cent, signalling stronger market acceptance for Nintendo’s next-generation console. This comes despite a higher price of $450 for the console and $80 for some first-party games, as well as an increasingly competitive gaming landscape, with competition from both traditional home consoles and handheld gaming devices.
A large part of the growth is attributed to the existing Switch user base, with an estimated 105 million active Switch users representing a massive potential upgrade market for the Switch 2. The new console, which hits retail shelves on June 5, will benefit from the launch of Mario Kart World, a brand-new flagship first-party title with a huge audience.
Mario Kart World will launch alongside the Switch 2 on June 5. (Image credit: Nintendo)
Omdia estimates that Mario Kart’s strong brand recognition, combined with the success of the last game in the series—where 50% of current Switch owners purchased Mario Kart 8 Deluxe—makes it a strategic decision to launch the title alongside the Switch 2. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has sold over 67.35 million copies, making it the best-selling game on the Switch system.
