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It’s pretty remarkable – Nintendo has sold well over 114 million Switch units as of this writing with no sign of slowing down. The innovative hybrid system is creeping up on its sixth anniversary, and when compared to the competition, its specs are far behind! So what’s driving these insane sales numbers? And will the Switch go on to become the best selling game console in history? Let’s look at some of the driving factors.
The Appeal
Starting with the obvious, the Nintendo Switch has a highly unique appeal to consumers. Prior to the Switch, gaming was split. On one side, you had the large expansive games that could only be played on TV connected consoles or computers. On the other side, you had portable games, which were typically lighter experiences. That notion got flipped on its head when the Switch launched, and it was a homerun with gamers. And aside from the Steam Deck – which arrived nearly five years after the Switch – there hasn’t been another portable option with this much horsepower. The decision to make it playable either on-the-go or connected to a TV sits very well with both casual and hardcore audiences, helping put Nintendo back in the league it belongs. For those on a budget or simply not interested in playing on a TV, the Switch Lite was introduced as a lower priced option – a move that certainly didn’t hurt their sales numbers!
Portability Drives Sales
Aside from the convenience that portability offers, the demand for Switch units is undoubtedly heightened by consumer habits when it comes to portable game systems – the same effect that helped Nintendo sell a staggering 154 million DS units. Let me explain: our family has nearly every major console including the newest generations. We’ve got a Series X, a PS5, and four Nintendo Switches. Let me repeat that – four Nintendo Switches! The reasons are pretty simple. When it first came out, both my two older sons got one for Christmas. Since they’re made to be used on the go, it would be silly to have only one, right? Then I start seeing how cool they are and wanted my own a few years later. What’s another, $300, I suppose? Then my son’s starts having issues with the Joy Cons staying put on the side. By this point, my youngest son is starting to enjoy games, so we keep the broken-ish one docked for him to play while my son impressively saves up enough money to buy himself a replacement. That makes four! My point is that portability increases sales because people don’t want to share devices, and as they inherently get dropped or abused, people will gladly shell out the money to replace them.
These Games are Good!
Let’s not dismiss the fact that the Switch also has a pretty great library. A silver lining of the Wii U’s failure is that Nintendo had more than a few good games they were able to port over, helping them reach a wider audience. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8, and Pikmin 3 are just a few examples that come to mind. There’s been no shortage of titles coming out since the release of the Switch with even more on the horizon. With decent third party support, the system’s library is robust and diverse.
Will it Become the Best Selling Console?
Whether or not the Switch will take the throne as the best selling console is something we’ll have to wait and see. As it stands, it will have to overthrow the PlayStation 4 (117 million), the Game Boy (118 million), Nintendo DS (154 million), and the PlayStation 2 (159 million). So, there’s still a lot of ground to cover, but it’s looking more and more like a real possibility.
