With a significant number of people currently at home due to quarantine measures against COVID-19, more and more people are turning to video games to both spend their time at home, as well as connect with friends via online games. One platform that saw a spike in demand is the Nintendo Switch, an partly because of this, it’s being reported that the Switch is selling out worldwide.
According to a report by gamesindustry.biz, the Switch is currently sold out in most retailers in Europe and the US. This is partly due to the fact that there is an increase in demand (Switch sales increased by 150% during March), though Nintendo is also struggling to resupply EU and US markets as it is facing challenges on manufacturing and distributing consoles due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Japan meanwhile, the demand for Switch consoles has also increased, forcing the company to halt Switch shipments in the country. According to NHK World Japan, only “customers who reserved in advance can get [Switch consoles].” This is again due to production issues brought on by the coronavirus.
Aside from the fact that everyone is encouraged to stay at home, the Switch’s popularity is also likely due to the fact that it’s a family friendly console. The Switch has with a wide range of titles that everyone can enjoy, and there area also games such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons that let people interact with friends without leaving the comfort of their own home.