Latest news with #KojiTakahashi
Barnama
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Barnama
Nintendo Debuts Switch 2 To Strong Demand, Resale Concerns Emerge
People play a video game using Nintendo Co.'s Switch 2 consoles during a trial event on the new device's release day on June 5, 2025, at a consumer electronics store in Tokyo. (Kyodo) A man poses for a photo after picking up his new Nintendo Switch 2 gaming console at a store in Osaka on June 5, 2025. (Kyodo) OSAKA (Japan), June 6 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- Nintendo Co. on Thursday released the Switch 2, its first new gaming console in over eight years, with strong pre-order demand fuelling optimism that the device will bolster the company's fortunes, but concerns remain that reselling may distort the set price. According to Kyodo News Agency, the Kyoto-based gaming giant expects to sell 15 million units of the device globally in the current business year through March. Nintendo said in April it attracted larger-than-expected pre-order interest, with some 2.2 million people in Japan applying for a lottery in hopes of securing one at release. bootstrap slideshow The successor to the original Switch, released in March 2017, is priced at 49,980 yen (US$350) for the Japan-only version. The multi-language version of the device is available for 69,980 yen. The new console includes features such as screen sharing and voice chat via a built-in microphone. It also features a larger screen with roughly twice the pixel count of the original Switch and supports 4K output on televisions. Along with the console, the company released the Mario Kart World game, its latest instalment of the popular racing series. In Tokyo, dozens of people who won the lottery lined up in the morning before the opening of an electronics store in the Ikebukuro area. "It's great that players can see each other while playing. I can't wait to go home and play," said Koji Takahashi from Saitama Prefecture, who was first in line after arriving before 6 am. Satoshi Ayame was unsuccessful in the lottery but went to the store's release event to get hands-on experience with the long-awaited console. "I took a half-day off because I wanted to try this so badly," the 39-year-old said.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Nintendo debuts Switch 2 to strong demand, resale concerns emerge
OSAKA: Nintendo Co. on Thursday released the Switch 2, its first new gaming console in over eight years, with strong pre-order demand fuelling optimism that the device will bolster the company's fortunes, but concerns remain that reselling may distort the set price. According to Kyodo News Agency, the Kyoto-based gaming giant expects to sell 15 million units of the device globally in the current business year through March. Nintendo said in April it attracted larger-than-expected pre-order interest, with some 2.2 million people in Japan applying for a lottery in hopes of securing one at release. The successor to the original Switch, released in March 2017, is priced at 49,980 yen (US$350) for the Japan-only version. The multi-language version of the device is available for 69,980 yen. The new console includes features such as screen sharing and voice chat via a built-in microphone. It also features a larger screen with roughly twice the pixel count of the original Switch and supports 4K output on televisions. Along with the console, the company released the Mario Kart World game, its latest instalment of the popular racing series. In Tokyo, dozens of people who won the lottery lined up in the morning before the opening of an electronics store in the Ikebukuro area. "It's great that players can see each other while playing. I can't wait to go home and play," said Koji Takahashi from Saitama Prefecture, who was first in line after arriving before 6 am. Satoshi Ayame was unsuccessful in the lottery but went to the store's release event to get hands-on experience with the long-awaited console. "I took a half-day off because I wanted to try this so badly," the 39-year-old said. Online stores and auction platforms have tightened measures against resellers, with some banning the sale of the Switch 2. But by midday Thursday, multiple listings had already appeared on Japanese e-commerce site Mercari, priced well above the official retail level. Many of the units on Mercari were listed for between 70,000 yen and 90,000 yen, with one reaching a staggering 800,000 yen. The unusually high prices have drawn public attention and prompted renewed debate over resale practices in Japan's digital marketplaces. Ken Naganuma, a professor at Doshisha University and an expert in e-commerce, said implementing uniform rules is difficult as reselling is not illegal, but added that it is "rational" for companies to act to protect their brand value as resale becomes a "social issue." Reflecting the solid interest in the Switch 2, Nintendo said in May that it expects the company's sales for fiscal 2025 to jump 63.1 per cent from the previous year to 1.9 trillion yen. President Shuntaro Furukawa said it will increase production of the new device in response to the strong demand. The Switch has been one of Nintendo's best-performing consoles, with more than 150 million units sold. However, it has seen declining sales in recent years as the hardware aged after peaking at 28.8 million units in fiscal 2020.
Kyodo News
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Kyodo News
Nintendo debuts Switch 2 console to strong demand amid reselling woes
KYODO NEWS - 3 hours ago - 20:10 | All, Japan Nintendo Co. on Thursday released the Switch 2, its first new gaming console in over eight years, with strong preorder demand fueling optimism that the device will bolster the company's fortunes, but concerns remain that reselling may distort the set price. The Kyoto-based gaming giant expects to sell 15 million units of the device globally in the current business year through March. Nintendo said in April it attracted larger-than-expected preorder interest, with some 2.2 million people in Japan applying for a lottery in hopes of securing one at release. The successor to the original Switch, released in March 2017, is priced at 49,980 yen ($350) for the Japanese-only version. The multilanguage version of the device is available for 69,980 yen. The new console includes new features such as screen sharing and voice chat via a built-in microphone. It also features a larger screen with roughly twice the pixel count of the original Switch and supports 4K output on televisions. Along with the console, the company released the "Mario Kart World" game, its latest installment of the popular racing series. In Tokyo, dozens of people who won the lottery lined up in the morning before the opening of an electronics store in the Ikebukuro area. "It's great that players can see each other while playing. I can't wait to go home and play," said Koji Takahashi from Saitama Prefecture, who was first in line after arriving before 6 a.m. Satoshi Ayame was unsuccessful in the lottery but went to the store's release event to get hands-on experience with the long-awaited console. "I took a half-day off because I wanted to try this so bad," the 39-year-old said. Online stores and auction platforms have tightened measures against resellers, with some banning the sale of the Switch 2. But by midday Thursday, multiple listings had already appeared on Japanese e-commerce site Mercari, priced well above the official retail level. Many of the units on Mercari were listed for between 70,000 yen and 90,000 yen, with one reaching a staggering 800,000 yen. The unusually high prices have drawn public attention and prompted renewed debate over resale practices in Japan's digital marketplaces. Ken Naganuma, a professor at Doshisha University and an expert in e-commerce, said implementing uniform rules is difficult as reselling is not illegal, but added that it is "rational" for companies to act to protect their brand value as resale becomes a "social issue." Reflecting the solid interest in the Switch 2, Nintendo said in May that it expects the company's sales for fiscal 2025 to jump 63.1 percent from the previous year to 1.9 trillion yen. President Shuntaro Furukawa said it will increase production of the new device in response to the strong demand. The Switch has been one of Nintendo's best-performing consoles, with more than 150 million units moved. However, it has seen declining sales in recent years as the hardware aged after peaking at 28.8 million units in fiscal 2020. Related coverage: Nintendo to release Switch 2 console on June 5 for 49,980 yen Japanese game maker Sega opens 1st permanent shop in Shanghai
Fast Company
5 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
Nintendo Switch 2 launches in Tokyo drawing hours-long lines
Eager customers lined up outside electronics stores in Tokyo hours in advance to collect their preordered Nintendo Switch 2 video game consoles. The much anticipated Switch 2, being released around the world Thursday, is an upgrade to its eight-year-old predecessor with new social features meant to draw players into online gaming. Nintendo is counting on the Switch 2 to boost sagging sales. In the U.S., a chaotic preorder process in April left some fans frustrated after the consoles quickly sold out. In Japan, the new consoles were sold through a competitive lottery system that Nintendo said got about 2.2 million applications. Outside the official draw, some retailers offered their own lotteries to preorder the devices. Koji Takahashi was among those who missed out on the official draw but he was selected in the second round of a lottery held by a major electronics retailer in Japan. He was first in line waiting outside the store, arriving four hours ahead of its opening. He hoped to secure a limited supply of Nintendo accessories to buy along with his preordered Switch 2. 'I feel very sorry for those who weren't successful in the lottery. But I also had tough time getting this far, so I hope they forgive me!' Takahashi said. The new console comes with a larger and higher resolution screen than its predecessor, with improved processing power, offering smoother and more vivid graphics. Nintendo has said it expects to sell 15 million Switch 2 consoles for the fiscal year through March 2026. The company has promised to roll out attractive software for the Switch 2 later this year, including 'The Legend of Zelda' games, a Pokemon title and a Kirby game, as well as offerings from outside software companies. Nintendo is capitalizing on the launch with the opening of a store in San Francisco and the Super Nintendo World amusement facility in Orlando, Florida, both set for this month. The Switch 2's rollout arrives at an uncertain time for much of the gaming industry due to new tariffs implemented by U.S. President Donald Trump. In the U.S., the Switch 2's baseline launch price is $449.99—significantly higher than the original Switch's $299 price tag. U.S. preorders for the Switch 2 were delayed for several weeks so the company could assess the potential impact of tariffs.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Excitement across the world as Nintendo Switch 2 finally released
Eager customers lined up in Tokyo to collect their pre-ordered Nintendo Switch 2 video game consoles, an upgrade to the eight-year-old predecessor. The new consoles were sold through a competitive lottery system that Nintendo said got about 2.2 million applications in Japan alone. Koji Takahashi, who missed out on the official draw, was selected in a second-round lottery held by a major electronics retailer, arriving four hours early to secure accessories. The Switch 2 features a larger, higher-resolution screen and improved processing power for smoother, more vivid graphics. Nintendo expects to sell 15 million Switch 2 consoles in the fiscal year through March 2026 and will roll out new software, including The Legend of Zelda, Pokemon, and Kirby games.
