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Although the figure undershot the 24.1 million
Switch units sold in the same period a year earlier, the
milestone highlights the continuing demand for the device which
is in its fifth year on the market.
The games maker based in Kyoto is seeking to extend the life of
the ageing system, launching an OLED model in October which had
sold 3.99 million units by the end of the year.
Nintendo cut its full-year Switch sales forecast to 23 million
units from 24 million previously. The move follows a forecast
downgrade https://www.reuters.com/business/sony-smashes-estimates-with-32-rise-q3-operating-profit-2022-02-02
by rival Sony Group on Thursday as makers grapple with component
shortages.
Nintendo sold 11.8 million home-portable Switch units and 3.2
million of the handheld-only Switch Lite in the first nine
months of the financial year.
Money is flooding into the games industry as new entrants target
gamers' wallets and incumbents add developer capability as
online and cloud gaming expands.
While not opposed to striking deals, Nintendo President Shuntaro
Furukawa told a news conference: "It wouldn't be a plus to
suddenly bring in people who don't have Nintendo's way of
thinking."
The idea of the metaverse, or an immersive online world where
users game, shop and work, is driving industry investment by
players such as Facebook's parent Meta.
Furukawa said Nintendo could see the possibility of the
metaverse but would only consider it when the "surprise and fun"
that is the firm's focus can be delivered.
October-December operating income jumped 10% year-on-year to
252.5 billion yen ($2.2 billion), with Nintendo raising its
full-year profit forecast by 8% to 560 billion yen.
Nintendo also reported continued strong software sales. Titles
expected to drive future demand include "Pokemon Legends: Arceus",
which launched on Jan. 28 and has received praise as an
innovative entry in the long-running series.
A sequel to "Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild", which has
sold more than 25 million units, is also slated for release this
year.
($1 = 114.6300 yen)
(Reporting by Sam Nussey; Editing by Sam Holmes, Clarence
Fernandez and David Clarke)
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