As the Nintendo Switch 2's June 5th launch approaches, Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser has addressed key concerns about the highly anticipated console, including availability, pricing, and the controversial Game-Key Cards system.
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| The highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 console is set to launch on June 5th |
Supply Chain Confidence Despite High Demand
Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser has reassured consumers that the company is prepared to meet the high demand for the Nintendo Switch 2 throughout 2025. Speaking to IGN during the opening of the new Nintendo San Francisco store, Bowser confirmed that Nintendo forecasts shipping 15 million Nintendo Switch 2 units and 4.5 million original Switch units during the fiscal year. This production target aims to match what Nintendo accomplished during the first ten months of the original Switch release.
We do believe we'll have production and supply that will allow us to meet consumer demand, Bowser stated. We know there's been strong positive reaction to Nintendo Switch 2 early on and we've seen that through our preorders, but we do have a plan to have a continuous flow of product that'll be available through the holidays.
Price Point Commitment Amid Tariff Concerns
When questioned about the potential impact of tariffs on the Nintendo Switch 2's USD $449.99 price point, Bowser indicated that Nintendo has made a commitment to maintain the announced pricing. He noted that the company deliberately established and maintained this price point even after additional tariffs were announced, to provide consumers with certainty.
Obviously, it's still a very fluid situation and it's difficult to determine what may be happening in the upcoming months or weeks, Bowser explained. But our commitment is to find ways within existing market conditions or changing market conditions to make our products, including Nintendo Switch 2 hardware, as obtainable as we possibly can.
Bowser also revealed that Nintendo's production for U.S. supply comes from Vietnam, making it less impacted by tariffs compared to China-based manufacturing. However, many accessories are produced in China, which necessitated some price adjustments for those items.
Game-Key Cards Strategy Explained
One of the most controversial aspects of the Nintendo Switch 2 launch has been the introduction of Game-Key Cards, which don't contain actual game data but instead provide a key to download the game. When asked about this approach, Bowser defended the strategy as a way to expand the platform's game library.
Our goal with Nintendo Switch 2 – similar to what we were able to accomplish on Nintendo Switch – is to have the broadest and deepest library of content we possibly can, Bowser said. Game-Key Cards are a way that our publishing partners are able to bring more content onto the platform, deeper and larger, more immersive content on the platform.
This explanation suggests that Game-Key Cards are primarily designed to help third-party publishers bring larger games to the system without the limitations of cartridge sizes. While Nintendo has confirmed that the maximum cartridge size for Switch 2 is 64GB (as used by CD Projekt for Cyberpunk 2077), many third-party publishers appear to be opting for the Game-Key Card approach.
Third-Party Publisher Support
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has expressed great optimism for the Nintendo Switch 2, noting improved support for third-party publishers compared to previous Nintendo consoles. Take-Two is planning to launch four titles for the Switch 2, including Civilization 7 (on launch day), NBA 2K and WWE 2K series, and Borderlands 4 (September 12).
Historically, being a third party in the Nintendo business has been a bit challenging. I think Nintendo has been very forthcoming in addressing that. And we're stepping up too, because we have great optimism for the platform, Zelnick stated.
Technical Specifications and Manufacturing Decisions
A report from Korean publication Chosun revealed that Nintendo considered multiple manufacturing options for the Switch 2's processor before settling on Samsung's 8nm process node (SEC8N). The decision was reportedly based on fast and stable delivery and price advantages over alternatives like TSMC's 7nm and 8nm process nodes.
While the launch model uses Samsung's 8nm process, sources suggest that a future revision of the Switch 2 might employ Samsung's 5nm process node, potentially enabling an enhanced system version down the line.
As the June 5th launch approaches, Nintendo appears confident in its strategy for the Switch 2, balancing supply chain management, pricing considerations, and technological decisions to position the console for success in the competitive gaming market.