As of this month, Nintendo has sold 10 million Switch consoles to players worldwide, the company announced via a tweet. This achievement is of great importance to Nintendo as it is a reflection of the success of the innovative hybrid console. The Switch, which has only been in the market for almost a year now, is already catching up to the sales of Nintendo’s Wii U, which has sold 13.5 million units to date, after being released for five years now.
So what made the Switch such a success that surprised the gaming community? Well first off, it delivered its promises. Prior to the launch of the Switch, I was a bit skeptical of the hybrid concept. I guess part of my hesitation was my disappointment with Nintendo’s last console the Wii U, that effectively ruined Nintendo’s reputation in terms of innovative hardware during those dark times. When the Switch finally came out last March, I did not pick it up immediately, but when I did last September, I was not disappointed at all. The seamless transformation of the Switch from a handheld device to your standard home console blew everyone’s minds.
Another thing that contributed to the Switch’s success, and is the most important one in my opinion, is the variety of good first party games, and Nintendo’s commitment to encourage third party developers to make games for the Switch. 2017’s Game Of The Year recipient, The Legend Of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is definitely responsible for the initial sales of the console. Follow that up with other cool first-party exclusives like Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8, and Splatoon 2 and no wonder why the Switch is doing so well.
On the flip side, the Switch’s success pulled the focus of many publishers who traditionally prefer other platforms to Nintendo’s console. Currently, the Switch has awesome third party games such as Resident Evil Revelations, Stardew Valley, Doom, and even Skyrim that attracted gamers who loved these games on other platforms, but would want to experience the portability that the Switch is offering.
In the end, the Switch is still in its early life and has a long way to go. Nintendo’s sales figures is definitely impressive and hopefully, they keep the momentum going for 2018. I wouldn’t worry too much on the console’s future, at least for next year, as there are many announced games such as Bayonetta 2, Mega Man 11, and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, to name a few, that are headed for the console in 2018. In case you’re still thinking on whether to pick one up, check out the five best games you can play on the Switch right now.
Why do you think the Switch is such as success compared to last generation’s Wii U? Tell us in the comments below.
