In this March 3, 2017 photo, the Nintendo Switch is on display as Nintendo unveils it at a pop-up Living room in Madison Square Park in New York. (TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)

TOKYO - Japan’s Nintendo Co Ltd said on Thursday it expects to sell 19 million Switch console units in the current financial year as consumers locked down due to the coronavirus outbreak drive demand for the hit device.

The Kyoto-based gaming company said it sold 21 million Switch units in the year ended March, beating its forecast of 19.5 million units.

That breaks down as 14.8 million units of the hybrid home-portable device and 6.2 million units of the handheld-only Switch Lite, which went on sale in September.

The popularity of the device and the coronavirus outbreak’s impact on supply chains has led to Switch shortages around the world, preventing the company from taking full advantage of pent-up demand.

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The company said production and shipping are “gradually recovering” following pandemic-induced delays, but pointed to the risk of further disruption including to games development.

Nintendo has provided few details of upcoming titles, risking putting a break on sales momentum as studios across the world scramble to mitigate disruption from the virus. Rival Sony Corp has already announced delays to high-profile releases.