The Nintendo Switch has been a breakout success for the gaming giant, with the hybrid console helping countless people make it through the prolonged quarantine period. With the recent announcement that the Switch has sold 80 million units, it seems the sky is the limit for the little console, and apparently, Nintendo and some of its investors feel the same way.
During a recent investor Q&A session, Nintendo's Shuntaro Furukawa provided some insight about the sales strategy for the Switch moving forward. One of the questions posed by investors involved Switch sales, which investors stated are "within range of the approximately 100 million units recorded by Wii." Not only is that a vote of confidence from investors that the Switch could be as successful as the Wii, but Nintendo has a plan to get the console across the finish line.
Furukawa stated that Nintendo intends to keep the sales momentum trending upward in large part by selling multiple consoles to individual families. Furukawa emphasized that regional growth has been strong in markets all around the world, and with the sales surge, more families are buying multiple Switch consoles. According to Nintendo's research, 20% of family sell-through has been driven by demand for multiple consoles in the same household.
It's difficult to understate the level of success Nintendo is experiencing, and there are a lot of factors driving the company's strong growth. The major drivers, which Nintendo referenced in the investor Q&A, are the company's first-party games, like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Pokemon Sword and Shield. With recognizable games that aren't available on other platforms, Nintendo has been able to capitalize on people stuck at home during quarantine. Plus, there are events like Mario's 35th Anniversary.
While the PlayStation family of consoles is still the sales champion, the Wii sets a high bar for Nintendo to cross. It's the best selling home console Nintendo has ever released, and if the Switch manages to beat it, it could make a major shift for how Nintendo operates in the future. Third-party support has blossomed on the Switch, and while it seems Nintendo views its first-party games as the breadwinners, it's good news for consumers that Nintendo's strategy is working.
Nintendo and its investors aren't wrong, either. The Switch is halfway through its lifecycle, and with more major titles expected to release on the system, late adopters will be finding new reasons to buy a Switch for years to come. The Switch is in a strong position to outsell the Wii, but by how much remains to be seen.
Source: Nintendo