The first indication that quarantining during a pandemic would lead to more time spent gaming was a shortage of copies of peripheral-based workout game Ring Fit Adventure for the Nintendo Switch in China as the coronavirus first began to impact the country. Now, the U.S. has followed suit, as the very same game has been in short supply over the past couple of weeks domestically. Switch consoles have also recently become a hot commodity, and unfortunately for those with a recent or renewed interest in gaming, are now difficult to find even at their starting retail price.
Currently the only retail outlet that sells Switch consoles — and only the version with gray controllers — is Best Buy, where the consoles are available at their $300 suggested retail price and are only for pickup in stores that have them in stock. However, even that could soon change as those unable to secure a Switch elsewhere will likely be resorting to Best Buy’s remaining stock.
Since the release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons on March 20th, Switch gaming has been as inescapable online as it’s ever been. New Horizons is designed with sharing content online in mind, and most of its online playerbase has been doing just that. The versatility of the Switch as a console for new and veteran gamers alike, its library of titles from familiar franchises including Animal Crossing, and the increased amount of time those around the globe are now spending at home are all likely factors that are contributing to the surge of Switch purchases.
For those still hoping to secure a Switch themselves, all hope is not lost — a representative from Nintendo told Gamespot that more consoles are on their way, though no timetable has yet been announced.
Source: Gamespot
