File photo: A Nintendo Switch game console is displayed at an electronics store in Tokyo, Japan March 3, 2017. (REUTERS/Toru Hanai)
Multiple rumors have appeared over the past few months that Nintendo is preparing to launch a new version of its Switch hybrid console. Whether true or not, Nintendo has now confirmed it won't be unveiled at E3 in June.
As Bloomberg reports, Nintendo managed to disappoint analysts, investors, and probably quite a few gamers as well this week. The Japanese company's latest earnings guidance reveals a significant shortfall in profits compared to what was forecast. Analysts expected 350 billion yen of operating profit, but Nintendo only achieved 260 billion yen.
Sales of the Switch also disappointed. Analysts predicted 18.5 million, but Nintendo expects to achieve 18 million sales this year. That's an increase on last year's 17 million, so you can't really see that in too negative a light, especially when you consider the potential the Switch has for new system-seller games hitting the platform. For example, a new Pokemon RPG from developer Game Freak later this year.
The biggest general disappointment, though, has to be a lack of a new Switch model to get excited about. We've heard rumors a cheaper Switch would appear this summer and that a smaller Switch was launching this fall. It's true both could still happen, but typically E3 in June is the place to make such announcements and that isn't the case.
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When asked about a new Switch, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa commented, "As a general rule, we're always working on new hardware and we will announce it when we are able to sell it ... But we have no plans to announce that at this year's E3 in June."
This article originally appeared on PCMag.com.
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