Coronavirus Will Have No "Significant Impact" On Switch Sales In The West, Says Nintendo

Despite confirming that the coronavirus will cause shipping problems in Japan, Nintendo has announced that sales of Switch consoles and accessories won't be impacted in North America and Europe.

In a statement to Kotaku last week, a Nintendo of America spokesperson said the company does not anticipate the coronavirus having a "significant impact" on the distribution of Nintendo Switch consoles and accessories. This includes pre-orders like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Joy-Con controllers, and more.

"We can confirm that the manufacturing of some Nintendo products for the Japanese market has been delayed due to the impact of [the] 2019-nCoV coronavirus outbreak," the spokesperson said. "Nintendo does not anticipate a significant impact on our broader global supply chain for systems and accessories at this time, and product sales in North America and Europe, including preorders, are not affected. We would like to express our concern and support for all those affected by the coronavirus during this challenging time."

Earlier this month, Nintendo said that Switch console and accessory manufacturing would be delayed in Japan because of the coronavirus outbreak. What the company called an "unavoidable" move, a senior analyst at games market research firm Niko Partners told CNBC that the decision could have huge ramifications in the US.

"China is important for manufacturing of some game hardware, phones, and other components, and we believe that the entire supply chain of manufactured goods will be impacted--much more than just games," Niko Partners' Daniel Ahmad explained. "When looking at games consoles specifically, we note that 96% of video game consoles imported into the U.S. in 2018 were produced in China. Whilst companies such as Nintendo have moved some manufacturing abroad, China still accounts for the majority."