Nintendo has announced that it will cut its production plans for Nintendo Switch consoles by 20% during the current fiscal year. This may make the already tricky task of figuring out where to buy a Nintendo Switch this holiday season even more difficult.

The reasons for the production cuts are not so shocking. A global shortage of semiconductor components is wreaking havoc in a variety of industries and is part of the reason why finding restocks of OLEDs for the Nintendo Switch has been so difficult over the past few weeks. The shortage has also affected the production of PS5, iPhone 13, and even critical medical devices.

According to a new report in the Nikkei, the Big N has been forced to revise its production schedule for the remainder of this fiscal year. The gaming giant now plans to manufacture 24 million Nintendo-Switches, a 20% decrease from its original target of 30 million units.

Nintendo confirmed that it is continuing to "assess" the impact of the global chip shortage on its hardware production. President Shuntaro Furukawa also stated that while consumer demand remains strong, the company will not be able to manufacture as many units as originally planned due to continued production uncertainties.

Nintendo has sold 89 million Switch units since the launch of the portable and home console hybrid in 2017. The device's newest model, the Nintendo Switch OLED, was released earlier this month and has been virtually impossible to find in stock ever since. These ongoing production problems would suggest that the inventory situation will not improve in the immediate future.

Demand for computer chips shows no signs of abating anytime soon, and frequent shortages of popular high-tech products are expected to continue for some time. Some experts believe that chip shortages may continue to plague industry-wide production through 2023. By the time this problem is resolved, the Nintendo Switch Pro may be ready for launch.

If you are looking to secure a Nintendo Switch for the holiday season, now would be the ideal time to get your hands on the console before retailers sell out their limited allotment. Don't forget, Nintendo Switch deals are available early on Black Friday, offering great deals on a wide variety of games and accessories.