TOKYO, Feb 6 Reuters Nintendo on Tuesday raised its fullyear Switch sales forecast to 15.5 million units from 15 million units previously.

The Kyotobased gaming company sold 13.74 million Switch units in the first nine months of the financial year.

That compared with sales of 14.91 million units in the same period a year earlier.

With the hybrid homeportable Switch nearing its eighth year on the market, expectations are rising that Nintendo will release new hardware this year.

The lifecycle of the Switch has been extended by a string of hits such as The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom, which launched last May, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which went on sale in October.

Nintendo shares closed down 0.5 ahead of earnings and have gained 14 yeartodate.

Reporting by Sam Nussey; Editing by Kim Coghill and Christopher Cushing

Source Reuters