It worked, it seems like. That is, Nintendo's rigorous marketing of its brand-new hybrid console Switch, landing favored and expensive Super Bowl spots, a wellspring of demo locations, and other more shticks that made the console beeline into people's hands as soon as possible.
Nintendo Switch's Successful Launch
Of its release, GameStop has called the Switch the gaming retailer's "strongest, most successful in years," which is nary a surprise, given the strong preorders for the console beforehand.
The Switch was officially released on Thursday, March 3, and it was a huge hit at GameStop. Eric Bright, the retailer's senior director of merchandising, told Game Rant the good news, saying stores across the country were packed with customers who were aching to purchase a unit.
More Switch Stock Arriving Soon, Don't Worry
"This is one of the strongest and most successful gaming console launches for GameStop in the last several years," he said. Anticipating fanfare, which will definitely lead to shortage of units going forward, Bright fortunately promised more will arrive soon enough. "For those fans who are still looking for the Nintendo Switch, don't worry — we're getting more."
GameStop was among the retailers who had Switch stock available for walk-in customers on Friday; others had already managed to secure their own unit via preorder. Still, with strong preorder numbers, walk-ins were still significant, which might have prompted GameStop to regard it as one of the most successful launches in its retail history.
After the hardship of the maligned Wii U, Nintendo's former console, with nary a breath left in its life support (Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is its final first-party game), it will be interesting how the Switch's sales figures turn out.
Nintendo has yet to announce official sales of the hybrid console, but expect due coverage once it does. Anyway, it's too early for any market reports. Give it a few months or so, and maybe then Nintendo will have something to share.
By contrast, both of Nintendo's rivals Sony and Microsoft released their own consoles in 2013, and the PlayStation 4 rocketed to 1 million U.S. sales just within 24 hours of being launched; the Xbox One managed to snag the same figure in the same duration, but with the help of sales from 13 countries in total, according to Yahoo, as per news agency AFP Relaxnews.
Bright didn't provide any specific numbers supporting his accolade for the Switch.
If the Switch performs as Nintendo expects it, the company could reach its goal of 2 million Switch units sold in the first month of availability. Of course, sales will be affected by game release windows, and Super Mario Odyssey, a guaranteed hit, won't come until the holidays, the late arrival of which could dampen sales during the wait.
Those who managed to get it now, however, are able to play Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the system, since, especially when undocked, the game performs better on the Switch, compared to Wii U.
