A report from Nintendo’s Japanese homeland states that the production of the Nintendo Switch has decreased by 20% due to the current silicon shortage.
Sources from Nikkei reveal that Nintendo is reducing production across all versions of the Switch console, including the recently released Switch OLED version with a larger display.
The shortage of semiconductors and other electronic parts is cited as the reason for the scaled-back production. This means that the plan to manufacture 30 million units has been impacted, with 1 in 5 planned consoles not making it off the production line.
A spokesperson for Nintendo told the publication, “We are assessing their impact on our production,” while the company’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, had previously acknowledged that the company has not been able to create as many consoles as it had intended.
Switch shortages have been a regular occurrence since the console’s launch in 2017. The console was initially difficult to obtain, similar to the current PS5 and Xbox Series X/S machines. It was also challenging to acquire a Switch during the early days of the pandemic when the company released Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Despite selling nearly 90 million units over the last four years, it is premature to assume that the Nintendo Switch has peaked, as the system still has a lot of potential.
The Switch OLED has been described as a “fantastic upgrade” for portable play by our reviewer, Ryan Jones. He notes that the larger display does not hinder portability significantly and praises the sturdier kickstand and increased storage capacity.
However, for existing Switch owners, the Switch OLED may not offer substantial upgrades for docked mode, and it lacks a performance boost and the long-rumored 4K gaming support.
Ryan writes: “The Nintendo Switch OLED is a fantastic upgrade for portable play, with the new screen looking significantly better than the standard model’s. But with no substantial upgrade for docked mode, it isn’t a worthwhile purchase for those who just want a home console for the TV.”
