Nintendo Switch sales boost incoming as console tipped to overtake Wii
The Nintendo Switch is about to start shipping to stores and customers in far higher numbers, and could eventually overtake the Nintendo Wii.
Since its launch on March 3 this year, the Nintendo Switch has quickly become one of the most coveted gadgets available. The console – which won both Product of the Year and Console of the Year at the Trusted Reviews Awards 2017 – offers a unique blend of handheld gaming and living room entertainment, making it a popular alternative to the more traditional Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
Sales have been fairly significant so far, with Nintendo recently revealing that it had sold 7.63 million units between the launch date and September 30. That number could potentially have been higher, but many customers fell foul of stock shortages at key retailers like Amazon.
That’s why it’s no surprise to hear that Nintendo is working on ramping up production for the Switch to boost sales next year.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Nintendo plans to sell an additional 9.1 million units by March 2018, bringing the total sales to 17 million By the year end, it’s expected that Nintendo will have sold anywhere between 25 million and 30 million units globally.
But Nintendo’s gravy train won’t stop there, according to key analysts. A combination of its unique playstyle offering and strong franchise games (like Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey) could potentially thrust the Switch beyond the ludicrously popular Nintendo Wii in terms of sales.
For context, the Nintendo Wii is Nintendo’s best-selling console of all time, with over 101.6 million units shipped. Nomura Securities analyst Junko Yamamura is optimistic, however, that the Switch will achieve cumulative sales of 115.8 million units by March 2023 – six years after the launch.
There are still a few kinks that need to be ironed out though. For instance, the Switch is priced very highly at £279.99; you can get Xbox One S bundles with several games for as little as £200 these days. It’s possible we may see price drops or substantial deals in the new year.
What’s more, the roster of games on the Switch is still quite limited, although Nintendo has pledged to release more games for casual users in 2018.
Related: Best Nintendo Switch games
What do you think of the Nintendo Switch so far? Bought one? Even tempted? Let us know via Facebook or tweet us @TrustedReviews.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
