Nintendo has tapped Samsung Electronics to manufacture the main chips for its highly anticipated Switch 2 console, potentially enabling production to exceed the company’s conservative sales projections, Bloomberg reported.
Samsung is producing customized Nvidia-designed processors using its 8-nanometer technology, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified. The partnership positions Nintendo to ship more than 20 million units by March 2026, surpassing its official forecast of 15 million.
The contract represents a significant victory for Samsung’s foundry business, which has struggled to compete with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. in the contract chipmaking market. TSMC manufactured chips for the original 2017 Switch, but Nintendo reportedly shifted to Samsung because the Nvidia chipset was optimized for the Korean company’s manufacturing systems.
The high-profile deal could improve utilization rates at Samsung’s chip facilities while providing Nintendo dedicated production capacity without competing for limited space at TSMC’s in-demand fabrication plants.
Nintendo faces overwhelming demand for the Switch 2, receiving 2.2 million pre-order applications in Japan alone. The Kyoto-based company recently apologized for insufficient supply and has been pushing suppliers to increase production.
Samsung already provides memory chips and OLED displays for Nintendo devices, with the Korean tech giant reportedly advocating for OLED panels in future Switch 2 refreshes.
