The Nintendo Switch is off to an amazing start since it was launched in March, but it would have already reached even greater heights if not for the supply shortages of the hybrid console.
Nintendo has apologized for not being able to meet the demand of gamers and promised that more Nintendo Switch units are on their way to stores.
Nintendo Issues Apology For Nintendo Switch Shortage
In a post on Nintendo's official Japanese website, the company apologized for the Nintendo Switch supply shortage that gamers have experienced since it was released globally on March 3.
Nintendo is shipping out units of the hybrid console every week and will be increasing shipments volumes of the Nintendo Switch in July and August. The increased production will include more units of the Splatoon 2 Nintendo Switch bundle coming to stores.
Nintendo added that for autumn and beyond, it will work to further increase the number of Nintendo Switch units that will arrive in the market by improving its production system.
While the post discussed the shortage of Nintendo Switch units in Japan, it can be assumed that the increased production will reach international markets, as the supply shortage of the hybrid console is experienced globally.
GameStop said that it expects to receive more units of the Nintendo Switch in select stores across the United States, so gamers still looking to purchase the hybrid console should keep tabs on their local stores.
Nintendo Switch Shortage 'Not Intentional'
Ever since the NES, Nintendo has been accused of creating false scarcity for its consoles by intentionally limiting the supply of the devices to drive up demand. With the supply shortage of the Nintendo Switch, these accusations against Nintendo have resurfaced.
In an interview with Ars Technica, Charlie Scibetta, Nintendo's Senior Director of Corporate Communications, pushed back against the allegation.
"It's definitely not intentional in terms of shorting the market," he said, adding that Nintendo is making more Nintendo Switch units as fast as it can.
"We want to get as many units out as we can to support all the software that's coming out right now," Scibetta continued, especially for the upcoming holiday season when Super Mario Odyssey hits the shelves.
According to Scibetta, the Nintendo Switch supply shortage is the result of Nintendo underestimating the demand for the hybrid console. About 2.7 million units of the Nintendo Switch were sold in its first month, and Nintendo targeted 10 million units sold by the end of its fiscal year on March 2018, but it has so far not been able to keep up with the demand for the device.
Nintendo now estimates 20 million units sold by March 2018, and according to Scibetta, it is unclear how long the Nintendo Switch shortage will last.
Nintendo Switch Hype
The hype surrounding the Nintendo Switch was further driven up by an impressive showing by Nintendo at E3 2017.
At the annual video game event, Nintendo gave a good look at Super Mario Odyssey while also announcing upcoming titles such as Metroid Prime 4, a new Pokémon RPG, Kirby, and Yoshi, all of which are planned for 2018 and beyond.
Hopefully Nintendo will be able to catch up with the demand for the hybrid console, as the Nintendo Switch is expected to be one of the hottest items in the upcoming holiday shopping season.
