Nintendo Switch Won’t Hit 20 Million Units Target This Year Without Price Cut, Says Michael Pachter

Nintendo has set an ambitious goal of selling 20 million units of the Nintendo Switch for this fiscal year- that is, between April 1 2018 and March 31 2019. It’s a hugely ambitious aim- and one that Nintendo should be able to meet, given their lineup for the back half of the year.

However, Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter doesn’t seem to think Nintendo will manage it, or at least, not without a price cut. Speaking during yesterday’s YouTube Live at E3 2018, Pachter said that the only way Nintendo will hit its target is if it cuts the price of the Switch, by at least $50, and preferably $100. Citing sales in April, he said Nintendo needs a price cut for the console to do well this year.

Which is a bit ridiculous- Switch sales haven’t slowed down, it’s just that the PS4 has been doing (deservedly) well off the back of great exclusives. Nintendo Switch has in fact held steady without any major exclusive launches for the year. Plus, for the back half, Nintendo has several high profile games such as Fire Emblem, Super Smash Bros., and Pokemon lined up- does anyone really believe that the system with Smash and Pokemon won’t sell well?