The Nintendo Switch console has outsold its predecessor, the Nintendo Wii U. In just 10 months in the market, it has sold 14.86 million units, in contrast to the Wii U’s entire lifetime sales reaching 13.56 million sold units.
Released in 2012, the Wii U was discontinued in 2017. The Nintendo Switch has sold around 52.57 million units worth of software, which includes physical games and online features.
Nintendo Switch by the numbers
“For the Nintendo Switch software, Super Mario Odyssey was released in October and has been a big hit, with global sales reaching 9.07 million units Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, released in April, has sold 7.33 million units, and Splatoon 2, released in July, has sold 4.91 million units, bringing to 8 the total number of million-seller titles for this fiscal year including the titles of other software publishers.”
Nintendo’s newest console has been one of the most anticipated next-generation platforms, especially with exclusive titles like Mario Odyssey, Zelda breath of the Wild and even rumors of Pokémon Gen 8. The Switch’s exclusive lineup is probably the strongest one of 2018, yet there are many features that have not been made available.
Behind the Switch’s success
Nintendo has finally reached a peak this decade, doubling down on what seemed to be working on the Wii U, particularly the mobility feature on the hardware. They got rid of the rest of the console and invested on what now seems to be a console that everyone wants to buy. Nintendo reported the Switch to be their most profitable console since 2009.
The Kyoto gaming company announced that thanks to their exclusive content, sales are expected to reach $20 million, especially after Pokémon was announced to be released during 2018 or early 2019.
Super Mario Odyssey has been Nintendo’s Switch highest selling game with 9.07 million copies since its release in October, followed by Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with 7.33 million copies sold and finally The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild with 6.70 million copies sold.
Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima said about the sales achievement: “Switch sales during the holiday season were stronger than expected in Japan, the United States and Europe.”
Source: Nintendo