TOKYO: Nintendo on Thursday forecast operating profit would rise 13% to 320 billion yen ($2.22 billion) in the year ending March.

The Kyoto-based gaming company said it expects to sell 15 million Switch 2 units in the financial year.

For the year ended March, Nintendo reported operating profit fell 46.6% to 282.5 billion yen.

Nintendo is preparing to launch the Switch 2 on June 5.

The games console will succeed the Switch, which has sold more than 150 million units since its 2017 launch and transformed Nintendo’s fortunes after the Wii U flopped.

The launch will test Nintendo’s ability to manage its supply chain as it works to minimise disruption from a trade war between the United States and China.

Nintendo paused the start of U.S. pre-orders as it considered the impact of increasing U.S. tariffs. It later said it would maintain pricing at $449.99.

Lottery applications in Japan indicate robust demand for the more powerful gaming device, which offers a bigger screen and better graphics than its predecessor.

Xbox maker Microsoft and PlayStation maker Sony have both hiked console prices in recent weeks.

Reuters