Nintendo says it has enough parts for ‘immediate’ Switch production
But president Furukawa warns that shortages could still happen this year
Nintendo’s president has provided an update on Switch hardware production, stating that the company has been able to secure enough semiconductors for “immediate” production.
However, speaking to Nikkei (paywall), Shuntaro Furukawa warned that Switch could still experience hardware shortages this year due to significant demand.
“We have been able to secure the necessary materials for the immediate production of semiconductors for switches,” he said. “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.
“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.”
A global shortage of semiconductors has affected the production of electronics since the start of the pandemic.
In the games industry, console manufacturers have struggled with stock shortages for a year, after Covid-19 shut down essential supply chains and demand for gaming devices increased significantly.
In particular, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles have been incredibly difficult to secure, with most online restocks selling out within minutes.
A previous Bloomberg report suggested that the current semiconductor shortage could see games console stock struggles last until Christmas.
In a recent interview, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan couldn’t guarantee the company would be able to satisfy PS5 demand by the 2021 holiday sales season, noting in a discussion with the Financial Times that “there are very few magic wands that can be waved,” although he said the supply situation will improve throughout the year.
Microsoft’s head of investor relations, Mike Spencer, has said the company expects Series X/S shortages to persist until the second half of 2021.
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The ‘Switch Pro’ will reportedly use Nvidia’s DLSS tech for 4K upscaling
The supply issues are particularly significant to Nintendo, as it’s reportedly planning to launch new Switch Hardware later this year.
Nintendo‘s upcoming Switch hardware update – dubbed ‘Switch Pro’ by analysts – will reportedly feature Nvidia’s DLSS technology and an improved screen.
According to a recent report, ‘Switch Pro’ will include a new 7-inch Samsung OLED screen, as opposed to the 6.2-inch and 5.5-inch LCD screens of the current standard model and the Switch Lite respectively.
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