Nintendo Switch has been a hot commodity in the gaming world recently. With all of the closures, shipping inconveniences, and so many being forced to stay home, it seems that the Nintendo Switch has encountered a sort of perfect storm that the Japanese video game company has struggled to weather. But it seems that the powers that be at Nintendo are working to fix that.
In a tweet yesterday, Nintendo announced that only people who have reserved a console would be receiving their Switch this week. Bulk shipping to retailers is still lagging behind, but Nintendo mentioned that they will be giving an update next week on the status of shipments to retailers. As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc across the globe, companies in the video games industry have taken a big hit. With multiple cancellations and setbacks, Nintendo seems to be one of the most effected by the outbreak.
A report from GamesIndustry.biz says that when asked about the shortage a US Nintendo representative said:
Nintendo Switch hardware is selling out at various retail locations in the U.S., but more systems are on the way. We apologize for any inconvenience.
The Switch has been so popular during the COVID-19 outbreak, along with other consoles and digital media since so many people are stuck at home and looking for something to do. Switch sales spiked 150% in the month of March as the outbreak spread globally. Many of the components of the Nintendo Switch are made in China’s Foxconn facilities which were obviously impacted significantly by the outbreak. Hopefully as we all make our way out of this difficult time, factories, shippers, and retailers will slowly start to reopen and we’ll see more abundant stock available.
Some retailers still have the Switch Lite available but keep in mind that the Lite is only the handheld portion of the console and doesn’t allow you to dock and play on your TV or monitor.