The Nintendo Switch has been in demand these days, more so that most are holed up at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For those who don't own one, they can do so online. However, that is if they are still available with reports that the company is now dealing with some component issues coming from Malaysia and the Philippines.
In a report from Bloomberg, it appears that printed circuit boards are lacking from Malaysia due to lockdowns in force. The piece is essential since a Nintendo Switch cannot be assembled without it. That assembly part occurs in the Philippines, yet another country dealing with lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Taken altogether no PCBs and assemblies translate to now new game consoles. Hence, a shortage of availability looms.
The situation gets even complicated at some points. Even if Malaysia can send over the PCBs to the Philippines, seeing it reach assemblers may not be that easy. Also, there is a question on the number of workers who can report for work and assemble the Nintendo Switch game consoles. In all, this is the result of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it is affecting the economies around the globe.
This development adds to the woes of Nintendo which is already struggling to adapt to the work-from-home setup. In a previous report, it was already mentioned how this could result in a delay in new game titles. Expected to be affected will be their June Direct presentation which is normally the time when new announcements and games are unveiled.
For Nintendo, the current situation they are facing is only the tip of the iceberg. They are expected to encounter rougher sailing in the coming months where sales of game consoles are likely to be low. Most are dealing with financial difficulties right now and the demand for the Nintendo Switch is expected to take a hit as well.
Overall, the inability to assemble and stock up units on Nintendo's end only compounds their woes in a business sense. With shortages looming, some may end up settling for other game consoles such as the PlayStation 4 or even the Xbox One. The Nintendo Switch has already gotten its share of criticism for having limited games. Adding up the game console production and no new game titles over the horizon, there is a big opportunity loss that Nintendo is facing.
But like most, Nintendo has been known to battle adversity. In the case of the coronavirus, it is something that affects all. As to how long and when companies can rebound remains to be seen.
