Unlike the lackluster Wii U, the Switch has proven to be a massive success for Nintendo, and the company is rumored to increase its production soon. However, the real test of Nintendo's success will be whether or not they can maintain a steady stream of software.
Ramping Up
According to the Financial Times, Nintendo is expected to drastically increase production in preparation for the holiday season. The company has officially stated that they intend to ship 10 million units by the end of the fiscal year, which runs until March 2018. However, sources close to the company have said that Nintendo is hoping to ship 18 million units by March 2018. The sources also stated that Nintendo may have been being conservative with their estimates and could ship as many as 20 million units.
Despite Nintendo's efforts, the company does face some supply problems. The Switch may not be as powerful as its competition, but it is not immune to supply issues. The main issue is the LCD screens used in the handheld display. Additionally, there are reports that Apple and Nintendo have put a strain on the supply of NAND flash memory chips, as both companies need them for their products.
Unfortunately, despite Nintendo's increased production schedule, it is likely that retailers will have trouble keeping the console in stock.
Super Mario Odyssey
Aside from the production issues, the report also mentions that Super Mario Odyssey will be released in November. The title's release date has not yet been confirmed, but November would make sense, considering it will be the Switch's anchor title going into the holiday season just as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild served as a system seller for the console's launch.
Other Games
While the latest Super Mario title won't launch into the holiday season, Nintendo has plenty of software to keep gamers interested. Super Mario Kart 8 Deluxe recently launched to strong sales and reviews. ARMS, Nintendo's latest intellectual property, will launch in June.
Beyond their first party titles, which have always been a cornerstone of Nintendo's hardware, there are numerous third-party titles releasing for the console. Chief among them is Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challenger, which should provide a more competitive alternative to ARMS. Also from Capcom is a new version of Monster Hunter Generations. While not as big of a deal as Mario, Monster Hunter has a loyal following that is sure to provide Nintendo with some sales.
More importantly, Capcom's support can be seen as a sign of increased support from third-party developers, which is an area that Nintendo has lacked in recent years. If they can get strong third-party support to shore up the weaknesses in their own release calendar, then Nintendo fans may have a lot to look forward to.
This steady stream of software will be key to maintaining the Switch's momentum. If Nintendo can continue to produce quality games that keep people invested in the system, they may very well hit their alleged mark of 18 million.
