Switch successor a “major concern” for Nintendo, says president

It’s been over five years since Nintendo Switch was released. Since then, Nintendo’s current-generation console has amassed a robust library of titles and become the company’s bestselling console of all time with more than 103. 54 million units sold as of last year.

If you’re wondering what Nintendo has in mind for the Switch’s eventual successor, you’re not alone — as Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa himself as recently expressed that the transition to a new hardware platform is a “major concern” for the company.

Speaking during a Japanese investor Q&A meeting this week, as translated by VGC, Furukawa said that the company wanted to make the transition to a potential new console as smooth as possible for its 100-million-plus Switch users.

“To help alleviate this risk, we’re focusing on building long-term relationships with our customers,” Furukawa said during the meeting, according to VGC’s translation. We will still launch new software for the Nintendo Switch. However, we will offer services that use Nintendo Accounts as well as other IP. We intend for this to help build a lasting impact with our customers.”

In an investor Q&A back at 2021, Furukawa said that the Nintendo Switch is currently in its “middle stage” and that whatever Nintendo’s next hardware platform takes, it will likely include the same hardware-software approach that was used in the Nintendo Switch.