• Nintendo’s stock has risen by 14% amid expectations of a new console to succeed the seven-year-old Switch.
  • The company raised its fiscal year sales estimate for the Switch, with revenue and profits for the third quarter surpassing market expectations.
  • Despite pressure from competitors like Sony’s PlayStation 5 and Xbox, Nintendo is anticipated to release a successor to the Switch to maintain its competitive edge.

In the backdrop of a general rise in the Japanese stock market, Nintendo‘s stock has surged by about 14% this year. Investors are banking on the gaming company’s soon-to-be-released new console, touted as the successor to the seven-year-old Switch.

Nintendo estimates that its flagship console Switch will sell 15.5 million units in the current fiscal year, up from the previous estimate of 15 million; meanwhile, it has also raised its revenue, operating profit, and net income expectations for the fiscal year. On the same day, Nintendo announced its revenue and profits for the third quarter ending December, both exceeding market expectations. The quarter’s revenue reached ¥598.6 billion (approximately $40 billion), surpassing the expected ¥568.7 billion; while the net profit was ¥136.7 billion, also higher than the anticipated ¥130.3 billion.

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“Super Mario Bros” and “The Legend of Zelda” brought huge success

Thanks to the success of the movie “Super Mario Bros.” released last year and the flagship game “The Legend of Zelda,” this Japanese gaming giant has maintained its growth momentum recently. The movie and games have increased interest in the Switch and also boosted sales of this ageing game console.

Currently, Nintendo investors and fans are concerned about when Nintendo will launch the “successor” to the Switch console. The company has remained silent on the release of its next-generation console, but analysts have previously speculated that a new Nintendo Switch is expected to be launched this year. In January of this year, market research firm Omdia predicted that the new 8-inch Switch device will be released in 2024, a statement that has further strengthened some market expectations.

The Switch is lagging behind PS5

Nintendo’s hybrid handheld gaming console, the Switch, has been around for 7 years now, making it longer-lived than most competitors on the market. However, no matter how popular it is, it still falls behind the “next-generation” gaming consoles. According to Circana data, it lagged behind Sony’s PlayStation 5, which became the best-selling game console in the United States last year.

In addition, the Switch faces pressure from Xbox, the gaming division of Microsoft. In January of this year, the Xbox game “Palworld” was a huge success, attracting millions of players to use the Xbox Game Pass subscription service. This game, dubbed “Super Stitch Monster” by players, features shadows of Nintendo’s popular IP “Pokemon.”

Industry analyst Serkan Toto stated before Nintendo’s financial report was released, “The Switch has completed its journey, which is why Nintendo has no choice but to release the next generation of devices this year. Nintendo is currently holding back some major games, and they must ensure they have a ‘killer lineup’ when the new model is released.