The Switch hybrid console has been in high demand ever since it launched, but never more so than over the last year when everyone decided to play Animal Crossing: New Horizons while stuck at home. Now Nintendo is facing up to another problem: sourcing enough components to keep meeting demand.
As VGC reports, in an interview with Japanese publication Nikkei, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa explained, “We have been able to secure the necessary materials for the immediate production of semiconductors for Switches … However, in Japan and other countries, demand has been very strong since the beginning of the year, and there is a possibility of shortages at some retailers in the future.” He goes on to say, “It is difficult to say how we will deal with this, but in some cases we may not be able to prepare enough for orders.”
All sectors of industry have been struggling to source electronic components this year, with automakers being hard hit recently. Both Sony and Microsoft continue to struggle to meet demand for the PS5 and Xbox Series X, with stock appearing at retailers and disappearing within a few minutes.
If you’ve been considering a Switch purchase and see it in stock somewhere, grab one while you can. The other dilemma gamers face is continued rumors of a new Switch model appearing later this year, but if Nintendo is struggling to source components, it seems likely that launch would be delayed. Meanwhile, there’s already a fantastic line-up of games to play on the system, with Monster Hunter Rise being the latest to appear on that list.
