A while ago, there was report that Nintendo as looking at manufacturing 16 million Nintendo Switch units for the 2016-17 financial year, doubling its anticipated production from 8 million to 16 million. The report did make sense- the Switch has had a wildly successful launch, and is constantly sold out. It would make sense that Nintendo would want to be prepared with stock on hand, even if 16 million appeared a bit ambitious (it would mean that the Switch would outsell the Wii U’s entire lifetime sales in the span of a year, and sell more in a year than even the 3DS ever had).
But this new number is just outright crazy- according to report by DigiTimes, Nintendo’s production estimates for the Switch’s first full financial year on the market are 20 million, with a more conservative estimate of 10 million. Which I must admit is highly unlikely. 20 million in a year is an obscene number, and while I have no doubt the Switch will sell well, I don’t think it will sell at that pace, especially not at its current price.
Add to that the fact that the new report is by the same guys who swore up and down that the ‘NX’ is launching in 2016, while the earlier one was from a source as reputed as The Wall Street Journal, and you can see why I’m a bit unwilling to give this one any credence. So- take this with heaps of salt, and all that.
The Nintendo Switch is available now worldwide.