Although it's mostly doom and gloom for businesses during the pandemic, some companies are struggling to cope with demand for their products. One of them is Nintendo, and it's responding by ramping up production of its Switch hybrid console.
Getting your hands on a Switch right now is all but impossible. Stock has been depleted as people stuck at home need a regular distraction, and a Switch combined with Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the perfect boredom buster. Stock shortages are so bad and reseller prices so high, one gamer even decided to build his own Switch.
As the Nikkei Asian Review reports, Nintendo is responding to the lack of hardware by attempting to ramp up production. A Nintendo representative confirmed that, "We hope [suppliers] will be responsive to the production increase, but for procurement of some parts, the outlook remains uncertain, and we can't forecast exactly how many Switches can be supplied."
In terms of how many extra Switch consoles Nintendo wants, parts suppliers have stated orders are increasing by 10 percent for the year, but as much as 50 percent for the April-June period. Last year Nintendo produced 20 million Switch consoles, suggesting the goal is to make an additional two million available this year. Of course, how successful the company is in ramping up production will come down to how well the supply chain functions during the ongoing global pandemic.
Further Reading
- Report: Sony Is Limiting PlayStation 5 Production
- Sony: Don't Worry, PS5 Can Run 'Overwhelming Majority' of PS4 Games
- PlayStation 5 Launch Isn't Delayed by Coronavirus
- Sony Reveals PlayStation 5 Specs, Promises Instant Game Startup
- More in Gaming Systems