Nintendo warns chip crunch may hit Switch despite gaming boom

Exceeds estimates: A customer browses the gaming section of Nintendo products in a shop in Tokyo. The Kyoto-based studio reported operating income of 119.5 billion yen (US$1.1bil) for the March quarter, trouncing the average forecast of 68.3 billion yen. — AFP

TOKYO: Nintendo Co’s earnings beat estimates after hit games like Monster Hunter Rise propped up sales of the Switch, but warned that global chip shortages may disrupt production of its marquee device.

Nintendo’s better-than-expected results suggest the Covid-era boom in gaming that turned Animal Crossing into the world’s online town hall has legs.