Nintendo Switch 2 hype leads to shortages, special store opening hours

Nintendo 's flagship Switch 2, the successor to one of its most popular consoles, went on sale on Thursday with excitement and hype from fans leading to special store opening hours and shortages in some markets. The Japanese gaming giant is hoping the console can help sustain a monster rally in its shares which have risen nearly five-fold since the original Switch was released in March 2017. Nintendo is also hoping the Switch 2 can match the success of the original Switch, which has sold more than 152 million units and is the second-highest-selling device in the company's history, behind the Nintendo DS. And current demand looks strong, according to analysts. "Today is the biggest console launch of all time, so as expected, there is a frenzy of Nintendo fans checking stock availabilities at their local stores or eagerly awaiting deliveries," George Jijiashvili, senior principal analyst at advisory firm Omdia, told CNBC by email. The Switch's popularity is widely credited to its in ... Read full article.