The Switch has had a long and successful lifespan, and Nintendo isn’t ready to move on from the hybrid console just yet.
With over 130 million units of the console sold, it’s understandable why the company would not want to step away so quickly. Nintendo notes that the Switch will turn 8 years old in March 2024, but this won’t mark the end of the console’s life. Instead, the company will continue to develop new titles for it without being bound by traditional platform cycles, according to Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa.
Compared to current-gen consoles, the Switch remains woefully underpowered. Despite this, it continues to sell like hotcakes, with it moving 132.46 million units globally. Furukawa’s comments suggest that even if a Switch successor comes next year or in 2025, we’ll still be getting games for the current hybrid console.
There are a few ways to interpret the comments. They could be an indication that the next generation will live alongside the Switch. The comments also reveal that Nintendo believes the hybrid console has a lot more to give.
We also get some updates on some of Nintendo’s most profitable franchises. Super Mario Bros. Wonder has sold 4.3 million copies within two weeks of launch, making it the best-performing Super Mario title. The game has managed to reach these heights with some help from the Super Mario Bros. Movie which has boosted the IP’s popularity.
