Gamers waited in long lines outside stores from Tokyo to New York City on Thursday, eager to get their hands on the new Nintendo Switch 2 console. The device is an upgrade to Nintendo’s eight-year-old predecessor, which enthusiasts have been clamoring for.
The company is counting on the Switch 2 to boost sagging sales. To entice players, Nintendo has added new social features meant for online gaming. However, many gamers were not relying solely on these features; some had ordered online but hoped to snag any extra inventory available at stores.
Gamers’ Experiences
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Edgar Huo, a gamer in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood, stood in a line of about 25 people outside a Target store. He remarked, "I’m just rolling the dice here."
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Some retailers offered their own lotteries for pre-ordering devices outside of Nintendo’s official draw. Koji Takahashi, who initially missed out, was selected in a second-round lottery held by major electronics retailer Bic Camera. He expressed sympathy for those who were unsuccessful, saying, "I feel very sorry for those who weren’t successful with lottery."
In Tokyo’s Akihabara district, hundreds of fans gathered outside Game Center Mikado and other shops selling the console early Friday morning before it went on sale at midnight local time (1500 GMT). Some wore costumes and brought sleeping bags as they waited through rain showers overnight.
- Yuna Nakamura, a university student wearing a Mario-themed hat, shared her excitement: "I’ve been waiting since last night." She carried two large bags full of games and accessories she bought earlier this week when she won an online lottery run by Game Center Mikado. "It feels like Christmas morning," she said as she prepared her purchases inside the store.
New York City Scene
In New York City’s Manhattan boroughs alone, there were more than 20 locations where fans lined up overnight ahead of its release late Thursday evening or early Friday morning local time (0200-0600 GMT). Reports indicated that fans gathered in popular areas such as Times Square and SoHo.
- At least one fan showed up dressed as Link from the popular video game series Zelda, while another wore a Pikachu costume inspired by the Pokémon franchise.
Market Impact
Nintendo Co Ltd shares rose nearly 3% during trading hours following news of the highly anticipated next-generation gaming console’s release worldwide. Availability is expected across all regions except China due to restrictions imposed on foreign companies operating within the country.
- Shares closed higher than the opening price, representing the highest level seen since January when the stock first began trading publicly again following a merger between parent company SoftBank Group Corp., which holds a majority stakeholder position within the firm currently valued over $100 billion USD according to market capitalization metrics used widely throughout the financial industry.
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