- The production of Nintendo Switch reportedly was impacted due to a shortage of electronic components
- While the company planned to produce 30 million units this fiscal year, the number was decreased by 20% to 24 million
- Steam Deck will be released soon, but will the new handheld gaming PC steal Nintendo users?
Despite initial plans to produce some 30 million Nintendo Switch consoles, the company may see a decrease in production this fiscal year.
Switch Production Downscales to 24 Million Units for Fiscal 2021
Released in March 2017, Nintendo Switch took the gaming market by storm. Since its release, Nintendo has sold more than 89 million pieces. This handheld console that also has a variant to be used with a dock surpassed the sales of its competitors such as Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
Although initially, the company planned to produce some 30 million Nintendo Switch units, this may not be the case for this fiscal year. Recently, Nikkei revealed that production of the units was downscaled to 24 million for fiscal 2021. The main reason for the reduction in the number of produced units is shortages of electronic components.
It was last month when Nintendo released its latest Switch version featuring an OLED screen. The new vibrant screen makes big difference with crisp contrast and vivid colors. However, according to Nikkei, despite the strong demand, production was held up due to shortages of semiconductors, as well as other electronic parts.
Will Steam Deck Steal Some of Nintendo's Users?
A spokesperson for Nintendo revealed that the company is currently assessing the impact of components shortage on the production. Additionally, Shuntaro Furukawa, Nintendo's president, outlined that the company planned to produce more units but was unable to due to uncertainties related to the production.
In light of the upcoming release of the Steam Deck, it would be interesting to see what impact the device will have on the console market. Although the new device is labeled as a “handheld gaming PC,” it may be compared to competitor consoles such as Switch, considering its shape and thumbstick. However, a key difference that will remain between consoles and the Steam Deck is the gaming content. Only recently, Steam revealed that it is testing which games will be suitable to play on the new handheld gaming device. Once that is completed, the Steam Store will display an icon for games that are verified, playable or unsupported for Steam Deck.
