In a feature from Nikkei with translation per VGC, an issue has been brought to attention that relates to the ongoing global semiconductor shortage. According to Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa, there’s a possibility of Nintendo Switch shortages at some retailers in the future.
It’s not all doom and gloom as Furukawa noted that the company has been able to “secure the necessary materials for the immediate production of semiconductors for Switches” but it’s definitely something worth keeping an eye on as we move through 2021.
Semiconductor Shortage May Result in Stock Issues for Nintendo Switch
Previously, we’ve reported on a global semiconductor shortage and explained that this is one of the reasons why so many gamers are struggling to get their hands on a PlayStation 5 right now.
Demand exceeds supply, even as production of these semiconductors has begun to return to normal as COVID restrictions are rolled back.
In our previous article, we explained:
“Manufacturing is back to normal, but demand is not. People are buying devices more than ever, from new TVs to mobile devices, game consoles and anything else powered by computer chips. And with car manufactures adding more and more tech to new vehicles, there’s just more demand than ever before.
Companies like Apple and Samsung are even seeing delays in product launches, while companies like Ford have to fight for a spot in line. This doesn’t necessarily mean that tech is going to start going away, but it probably means we won’t be seeing prices go down anytime soon.”
It makes sense that if companies like Apple, Samsung, and Sony are experiencing issues as a result of this semiconductor shortage, that Nintendo would be as well. Hearing it confirmed by Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa makes the situation feel all the more real though.
“We have been able to secure the necessary materials for the immediate production of semiconductors for Switches. 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.”
The semiconductor shortage is one that will seemingly resolve itself (slowly) as production ramps back up. Unfortunately, one of the things that complicates the matter is the sheer number of products and companies that use these semiconductors.
And in past reports, it’s been made clear that little can be done outside of what companies have already been doing, so it’s essentially a game of “wait and see” right now. From Bloomberg, one estimate even sees the semiconductor shortage causing console stock issues until Christmas.
We hope this isn’t the case, and if new information comes out on the semiconductor shortage situation improving faster than anticipated, we’ll be sure to share that with you. In the meantime, while all of this is happening, Nintendo is also working on future plans including ideas for new consoles.
Furukawa speaks about this in the same Nikkei feature, with the following translation provided by NintendoEverything:
“As we spend more time in our homes, we are becoming increasingly spoiled for choice when it comes to entertainment. For people to choose to play our games with their limited free time, the games must be interesting. Competition is fierce and we’re not looking at the current situation lightly.
We are constantly looking out for new ideas and researching what we can utilize next. In future, we want to not only work on our staple series like Mario and Zelda but also work on new games and new series.
(Regarding the calls for a new Switch model) We’re constantly thinking about ideas for new consoles, but many ideas simply aren’t feasible because of cost or limitations in technology. We devote a lot of resources into developing technology in case any of these ideas become feasible in future.”
As bleak as the semiconductor shortage news is, it’s nevertheless nice to hear that Nintendo is looking to work on new games and series outside of staples like Mario and Zelda, and that they’re thinking about ideas for new consoles.
We can’t wait to see what Nintendo has up their sleeve for the rest of this year, including what their 2021 holiday calendar looks like.
While we wait for Nintendo to share more plans, we’re curious what your thoughts are on both the semiconductor shortage potentially impacting the supply of Nintendo Switch consoles, and the fact that ideas for new consoles are being thought about alongside plans for new games and new series.
Let us know how you feel about everything on our social media channels including Facebook and Twitter!
Related: Chip Shortage, Affecting Next-Gen Console Supply (and More), at ‘Crisis Point’
