Pandemic plus Animal Crossing equals a Nintendo Switch shortage?

People are spending more time at home than ever before. With the current state of affairs (I’ll try and avoid the “c” word), we’re all hard-up for entertainment. Streaming movies and TV is great and all, but there needs to be some change in the digital scenery, right? I mean, I’ve always been a gamer on some level, but with us having to stay home, I’ve turned to games even more than usual. Apparently, I’m not alone.

As it turns out, gamers are having a hard time getting their hands on a Nintendo Switch. Online retailers have been unable to keep up with the demands of the system. As a result, you’re likely only to find one if you’re willing to pay through the nose for it. Take a look at the list of prices on Amazon.

Luckily, this is something Nintendo is perfectly aware of.

“Nintendo Switch hardware is selling out at various retail locations in the U.S., but more systems are on the way. We apologize for any inconvenience,” a spokesperson for the company told The Hollywood Reporter. So, what’s the reason for this lack of supply from the Big N? Is it an inevitable result of the pandemic? Sadly, Nintendo won’t say if that’s the case. Given their family-friendly image, there’s no way they’d ever admit to it. However, they did admit that some shipping delays were inevitable thanks to the outbreak.

RELATED – Why Animal Crossing Has Different Gibberish In English And Japanese

With that in mind, I see this being a perfect storm. On one hand, you have the pandemic and the shipping issues it brings with it. On the other, you have shelter-in-place orders mixed in with the release Animal Crossing: New Horizons. If you’ve been online the past few days, you may have noticed how many gamers have turned to the game for comfort.

Not only is it a big tentpole title for Nintendo, but in a world where we’re being ordered to stay indoors, Animal Crossing: New Horizons takes us outdoors. In the game, you retreat to your own private deserted islands, taking on zen tasks like catching fish, pulling weeds, and building out your living space. So far, the sales of the game have tripled the previous installment, Animal Crossing: New Leaf. If that’s not an indication of popularity, I don’t know what is.

So if you were hoping to lock down a Nintendo Switch, you may want to start looking sooner rather than later. Either that or you may need to prepare to pay way too much for it.

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SOURCE: THR