It’s no secret that the Nintendo Switch has been flying off the shelves so far, its portable/home console tactic and strong first year of software making it a huge hit – and, like all proud parents, Nintendo is ready to boast about it.
The company has just released updated lifetime sales figures for every mainline console it’s ever released (with the notable absence of the Virtual Boy…), and it puts into perspective just how well its latest console is tracking.
As you can see in the handy graphics below, the Switch is already nearing the 20 million mark having only been on sale since March 2017, and that means it’s already beaten the lifetime sales of its unloved predecessor the Wii U by a cool 7 million. Not only that, but it’s closing in fast on the underrated GameCube, and even the Nintendo 64 is in its firing line on 32 million sold.
Of course, the Switch is still a long way off beating the huge totals set by the world-conquering Wii on 101 million and the DS on a ridiculous 154 million, but as a replacement for both the home consoles and portable devices of years past, it’s got a leg up on both of them.
All it needs now is another run of games on par with its opening gambit of Zelda and Mario to really make it essential, and if the new version of Smash Brothers doesn’t do it for people, it’s the first appearance of a true full-fat Pokemon RPG on a home system that is almost guaranteed to send sales into overdrive as soon as it hits.
Its current library is no slouch though, and Nintendo also revealed the top-selling titles on the system, with Mario ruling the top of the table ahead of Zelda and Splatoon.
- Super Mario Odyssey – 11.17m
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 10.35m
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – 9.32m
- Splatoon 2 – 6.76m
- 1-2-Switch – 2.45m
- ARMS – 2.01m
- Kirby Star Allies – 1.89m
- Xenoblade Chronicles 2 – 1.42m
- Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze – 1.40m
- Nintendo Labo (series) – 1.39m
- Mario Tennis Aces – 1.38m
Despite putting big numbers on the board, Nintendo still has some work to do to keep its investors as psyched about the company’s position as the market is, as stock prices have dropped by a quarter since their peak in May.
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Check out the console sales figures below.
