SuperData: Nintendo Switch Sales Already At 1.5 Million Worldwide, 1.34 Million Copies Of Zelda Sold On Switch

@spiraltap:

I think it's certainly positive when certain variables such as launch date are considered. It was a very successful launch. :)

Hopefully the momentum can continue. I certainly feel the marketing team has done a better job exposing the system and communicating the concept.

For me, the holiday season will be the big tell with the launch of Mario Odyssey. The accumulation of other titles such as Splatoon 2 and Arms, though smaller (despite the former having quite a reputation in Japan) will also help. Again, these games on their own don't stand but together form a strength surrounding other software output.

3DS XL couldn't fit in a pocket lol

Remember, people have no issues carrying iPads and Kindles with them- they won't mind a Switch if it is compelling enough. Right now, the technology is instantly appealing (unlike the Wii U), so there's a good start for Nintendo right there. Games wise, Nintendo has Zelda out now, and it will have more games out in the coming months. The Switch is literally Nintendo's battle to lose.

Sure, but those casual games are the ultra casual gamers who were never going to buy anything beyond the Wii and their games on it anyway.

@spiraltap: It did but it was selling to the same people that only bought a Wii for Wii Sports and Wii Fit in the first place. Parents and grandparents that remembered playing 2D Mario on NES/SNES years ago. 3D Mario has far more appeal to actual gamers.

Pretty good numbers but how accurate is Super Data?

Unless my memory has failed I do not recall the Wii U being sold out and unavailable the day of launch, the day after launch or a week later. My local B&M retailers all had stock. If you want a pro controller I can walk into two stores and purchase one. A Switch? Nope.

Kindles don't do more than just one thing, they are used for reading. Your entire argument keeps shifting- first it was about the Switch's lineup. Then I pointed out that Switch's lineup is fine, you said it didn't help the Wii U. I pointed out it helped the 3DS, you shifted it to the Switch's size. I pointed out that other similarly sized dedicated devices can be and are carried by people outside, now it shifts to perception of gaming. You're shifting arguments with each post, and it's becoming clear you don't want the Switch to do well, you're moving into this with preconceived confirmation biases. There's no point in a discussion.

Here's the thing- the people who bought 3DS as portable systems will have no problem buying a Switch as a portable system. The Switch and 3DS XL are roughly equivalent in size- no one carries a 3DS in their pocket, they put it in their backpack, which is exactly where the Switch will go.

Now we're discussing artificial shortages? If artificial shortages are such a foolproof strategy, why does every company not always go for it? Why did Nintendo not do it with Wii U?

Face it, it's an appealing product (for now) selling well because people are actually interested in it. 2 million were allocated to March, and most of those are already sold out. You don't want the Switch to do well, I get it, but it's doing well right now. Shifting goalposts and strawman arguments won't help with that.

No, that is not my point. Point is people shouldn't get too excited by sales numbers right now. I've already said I expect it to sell a good deal better than Wii U, but this will not be anywhere close to a 3DS level success.

Did I say Kindle Fire? No, I said Kindle, the specific eBook reader that I was referencing in my argument that people carry with them everywhere.

What's the next goalpost shift?

Artificial shortage prevented people from pre ordering? I picked up my Wii U on (11/18/12) when B.B. opened and the person told me NO ONE pre ordered the console. NO One. Allow that to sink in for a moment. This go around was completely different at my local store(s). The release of the Wii U was met with zero pomp and circumstance while this release had more of an optimistic feeling about it with a much better reception.

@charizard1605: That would be nice if it happens :P The game deserves it tbh.

Btw, any news on what Nintendo expects to sell this first year?

Last time I checked 3DS wasn't a $300 unit with $50 - $60 games. Nintendo handhelds use to be the budget Nintendo system to get, now if you want to be able to play new Nintendo games you have to buy the $300 Switch and deal with higher priced games. There is no budget successor to the 3DS. A lot of those 3DS owners are most likely just going to play on their Smartphones and totally ignore the more expensive Switch.

If you think the price will stay stagnant at $300, I don't know what to say to you

$60 for games is a price hike, sure, but I highly doubt it impacts the sale of Nintendo games like Pokemon or Animal Crossing at all. Clearly doesn't seem to have impacted sales for Zelda.

We only have their projections for until the end of March, which is 2 million

@charizard1605: If the shortages aren't artificial do you think Nintendo could have a dreamcast problem?

The dreamcast when launched was in short supply, but due to manufacturing limitations. Sega said they projected to sell at least 300,000 more dreamcasts in japan while it had some momentum if it wasn't for the shortages. And when they finally were able to meet demand the momentum kinda crashed. (probably because of ps2)

I think Nintendo needs to get their supply beefed up while the demand is so high and it has the momentum. For all we know the scorpio or a ps4 price drop could hamper it, just like the dreamcast.

I don't think it's enough of a problem, no- the Dreamcast was directly competing with the PS2. The Switch... well, I'm not foolish enough to say it's not competing with PS4 and Xbox One to some degree, but at the same time, no one who buys Switch buys it as a replacement for PS4. They buy it in addition to a PS4 or Xbox One in all likelihood- it's a system you are buying to complement one you already own. As I said above, like a Nintendo handheld- a 3DS was not purchased instead of a PS4. A DS was not purchased over a PS3. They were almost always purchased in addition to one.

Right now, Nintendo has demand because of a super popular game- as long as they can maintain a games lineup, I think they can maintain that demand, and therefore sales.

Zelda just came out and its currently being bought by the most hardcore Zelda fans right now. You can't say whether people who only owned a 3DS and not a Wii U picked up the Switch just for Zelda in great numbers. That is a stretch. I'm also surprised how much you underestimate the affects a $20 - $30 price hike on games can have to overall sales. For every 2 Switch games you buy you could have bought 3 3DS games.

@charizard1605: people said the wii u would drop in price too. PLus the 3ds still suffered a sales drop in half after the first 2 years after the price cut.

Mobile is bigger than ever with each new year which the switch, a tablet + controllers, has to compete against.

This issue will not affect Nintendo's own games. I can see third party titles suffering as a result, sure- but many, such as Atlus and Capcom, were already selling their 3DS games at $50 prices.

Time will tell how much of an affect it will have, but point is there will be an affect. There is just too much competition out there these days, especially for gamers on a tight budget. Nintendo would do well to sell a cheaper handheld only Switch.

@charizard1605: They can probably pull close to 10 million by the end of 2017 I think. Maybe even more if games like Splatoon 2, MK8 and the new Mario pull in people.

Lets see how well they do by the end of the year. Launch numbers are always favorable for new systems. With Zelda being the only noteworthy game and no BC, this is going to be entertaining to say the least.

great attach rate with Breath of the Wild there

@Pedro:

Don't be a negative Nancy, Pedro! :O

Well,there isn't much reason to buy a Switch besides that.

Arms?

1-2 Switch?

Bomberman?

Impressive given how bad the reveal was.

I'll wait for reliable numbers by Nintendo in a couple months. I want to see the drop off.

This is still on of many hurdles to go yet. Its not a success. We will see how it's still selling through the summer.

Btw I believe it will be a big sucess

Dat attach rate microsoft and sony can only dream of having that kind of loyal fanbase

When you only have one real game what other options do Switch owners have?

That was a damn good move, releasing Zelda at launch. It's such an obvious "duh" option, but it clearly paid off in heaps.

While true the PS4 and Xbone had no memorable launch titles at all. Switch already has one of the highest rated games ever made out of the gate.

ARMS isn't out yet

The reveal (which most people saw) was great. The conference (that most did not) was awful.

Nintendo's strategy was to keep the consumer facing marketing focused- core gamers will end up buying one anyway. Seems to have paid off.

And that is as good as the Switch library is going to be.

Outside of that its seems like a healthy amount of people who bought the Switch bought it to resell. Ebay and Craigslists have thousands available.

Why would someone get a Switch without Zelda?

Yes, it did.

Tell me exclusives don't sell consoles, now. Go ahead. I'll be popping popcorn.

Obviously they do, but to varying degrees is all. A show stopping killer app like Zelda is a rare occurrence (even if it's not technically exclusive). It's like what FFVII was for the PS1, FFX and MGS2 for the PS2, Halo and Halo 2 for the Xbox. These console pushing games do come along, but not all too often.

Like the PS4s exclusive library for example. It having a varied stable of exclusives absolutely helps to move units, but I can't really point to a single game that was a force like that. It's the build up of many different games that adds up to a richer library, making it more appealing than the competition.

So yes, I do agree with you lol. Just saying, BotW isn't your typical exclusive.

Zelda is to the switch what halo was to the original xbox, a killer app

@charizard1605: but what are the sales of 1, 2 switch?

Congrats to a successful launch, now they have to keep the momentum going, and they need to re-stock fast....I'm hearing some retailers have no clue when they will get more stock. It's nice the product is in high demand, but they cannot keep this up for too long.

Already 10% above the Wii U, just imagine how many more units they will sell if Pokemon releases in the holiday season!

@ConanTheStoner: Still. You gotta make 'em to have 'em.

Yup, which is why MS is the absolute best!

lol

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On topic though, I really do hope they can keep a strong momentum going. I don't want this to be another one of those consoles that might as well be packed up for most of the year. It needs games, games, games. Nintendo needs to kill it at this years E3, less cringe, more cool games.

Probably around 500k. I think ill be over 1 million by holidays. Its one of those games you just want to have just so you can say you tried it.