The world is all set for the Nintendo Switch Presentation 2017, which will be held on Jan. 12 at 11:00 p.m. ET. Through the livestreamed event, Nintendo will finally be revealing all the details regarding the upcoming hybrid console, including its price, launch games lineup, and release date.
The day after the announcement, the preview tour for the Nintendo Switch will start, in which the press and the public will be able to try out the hybrid console. The first stop is New York, with the tour to stay in the city from Jan. 13 to Jan. 15.
However, according to the official Twitter account of Nintendo New York, the preview tour will not be the only thing that will launch for the Nintendo Switch on Jan. 13.
Nintendo Switch Preorders To Launch Jan. 13
Nintendo New York tweeted that preorders for the Nintendo Switch will start on Jan. 13 at 9:00 a.m. ET, with only a limited quantity until supplies last.
It is currently unclear if the preorders will be available for all the cities where the Nintendo Switch preview tour will hold events, or if it will only be a one-time thing for New York. Nevertheless, the limited quantity will likely run out quick, so gamers who are looking forward to the hybrid console should make plans to line up at the Nintendo New York store on that day.
Limited Nintendo Switch Preorder Quantities: Trouble?
The usage of the term "limited quantity of pre-orders" likely means that the Nintendo New York store already knows how many units of the Nintendo Switch it will have available once the hybrid console launches.
However, such a scenario brings back memories of the massive supply shortage of another hyped Nintendo product, the NES Classic Edition.
Simply put, Nintendo has not been able to keep up with the demand for the retro console, frustrating gamers who have been trying to purchase the NES Classic Edition ever since it was launched in November of last year.
The supply shortage could be one of two reasons: either Nintendo is purposely limiting the supply of the retro console to further drive up the hype and demand for the device, or the company was simply not able to properly forecast how many units of the NES Classic Edition it should manufacture.
With the limited quantities of preorders for the Nintendo Switch, it again seems that Nintendo only has a set number of units for the hybrid console that it will be sending to its stores and partner retailers.
Instead of meeting the demand for the Nintendo Switch and sending out units as needed, it looks like the company is fine with releasing a limited quantity and letting gamers wait for production to catch up with the demand.
It has been previously said that Nintendo is planning to release only 2 million units of the Nintendo Switch worldwide upon its launch, an absurdly low figure considering the hype surrounding the hybrid console. If this is true, then gamers will likely be looking at a similar, if not worse, supply shortage for the Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo Switch Rumors
A high number of rumors and leaks have been swirling regarding the Nintendo Switch recently, especially as the Nintendo Switch Presentation 2017 draws near.
The most recent ones include the leaked list of games that will be available for the Nintendo Switch upon its launch, the confirmation of Pokémon Stars, and a skin for the hybrid console based on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
