The Japanese manufacturer is organizing a vast presentation tour of the new Switch 2 in several major cities around the world. The latest event, scheduled in Seoul on May 31 and June 1, strongly suggests commercialization no earlier than summer 2024. A slightly different strategy from the first Switch.
A calendar that says a lot
Nintendo has chosen a methodical approach for the launch of its new console. Getting Started events begin in April in Paris, London, Berlin, Milan, Amsterdam and Madrid, before continuing in Asia. This careful organization offers a revealing insight into the release schedule envisaged by the Japanese giant.
In 2017, when the first Switch was launched, Nintendo adopted a tight schedule. The preview events had started on January 15, and the console arrived on the shelves the following March 3, about six weeks later. This time, the spread of presentations over several months indicates a different strategy.
The choice to schedule the last event at the beginning of June in Seoul is not insignificant. Nintendo usually favors a reasonable time between the last public presentations and the sale. This late scheduling therefore leaves little room for doubt: the Switch 2 is not expected to hit the market before summer 2024.
A well-established marketing strategy
Nintendo’s strategy for the launch of the Switch 2 is a continuation of the methods that made the first Switch successful. Preview events where it will be possible to test the Switch 2 before everyone else allow you to build progressive anticipation and collect player feedback before the official launch.
A strategic summer launch
A launch during the summer of 2024 would present several strategic advantages for Nintendo. This period traditionally corresponds to a low point in game releases, thus offering maximum visibility to the new console.
This release window would also allow Nintendo to prepare a solid catalog of games for the holiday season. The manufacturer could thus offer an attractive offer during Black Friday and Christmas, two crucial periods for console sales.
Third-party developers would also have more time to finalize their projects. A summer launch would give them the opportunity to polish their games and be ready for the holiday season, traditionally the biggest for the video game industry.
- The Switch 2 preview tour ends June 1 in Seoul, suggesting a release in summer 2024 at the earliest
- Nintendo adopts a more spread out schedule than for the original Switch, which was released six weeks after its first preview events
- A summer launch would allow Nintendo to prepare a solid offering for the 2024 holiday season
