The Japanese gaming giant's president Shuntaro Furukawa dismissed claims that the announcement of the next console in the series has led to a decline in sales for the original 2017 handheld, as Nintendo admitted it had not met its intended sales goals for 2024.

He told investors at an earnings calls this week: "We don't think the impact of refraining from purchasing [because of Switch 2] is that great.

"We think it's a solid eighth year, but we haven't reached our target."

In a new financial report, Nintendo stated it expects to shift 11 million consoles in the fiscal year ending March 2025.

The much-anticipated console will be showcased in the April 2 Nintendo Direct event.