NINTENDO Switch consoles could be even harder to find than usual this year.
A warning from Nintendo’s boss says a global chip shortage is causing havoc for the firm.
Since last year, chips for phones, consoles, cars and other electronics have been in short supply.
It’s meant a number of products have been delayed, cancelled or released with limited supply.
The Nintendo Switch is already wildly popular and regularly sells out – especially around the holiday season.
Now Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa has warned that the Switch may be in short supply this year.
“We have been able to secure the necessary materials for the immediate production of semiconductors for Switches,” Furukawa said to Nikkei.
“However, in Japan and other countries, demand has been very strong since the beginning of the year.
“And there is a possibility of shortages at some retailers in the future.
“It is difficult to say how we will deal with this, but in some cases we may not be able to prepare enough for orders.”
The shortage first began last year, as chip-making factories were forced to shut down during the pandemic.
Some firms – like car makers – needed fewer chips as demand dried up.
But electronics sales soared as the world began spending more time at home.
Then once the world began kicking back into action, a backlog in orders put strain on the chip-makers.
Several products were delayed as the shortage ramped up, including two of last year’s iPhone models.
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