GameStop lauded the Nintendo Switch as its "strongest, most successful in years," and Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime claimed that the hybrid console has claimed the title of being the fastest selling console ever by the company.
These statements, in addition to the massive demand for the device, have many believing that Nintendo has hit the jackpot with the Switch. However, the big question is whether the company will be able to sustain the momentum that it has gathered with the launch of the hybrid console.
Nintendo Switch Sales To Reach 8 Million Units By Q1'18
Lewis Ward, the research director for gaming at market research firm IDC, revealed that he expects the Nintendo Switch to ship about 8 million units across the world by the end of the first quarter of 2018. This represents a period of 13 months from the hybrid console's March 3 global launch date.
"Switch is on track to ship 2 million by the end of March, so that's a solid start," Ward said, adding that he expects the hybrid console to perform much better in terms of sales figures compared to its predecessor, the Nintendo Wii U. However, Ward also thinks that the Nintendo Switch will not be able to beat the number of units sold by the Nintendo Wii over the same period of time.
The preliminary sales of the Nintendo Switch have impressed analysts, particularly because the hybrid console was released outside of the holiday shopping season. Analysts were also previously concerned over the limited supply of the Nintendo Switch, along with a price that is steeper than what most expected.
Atul Goyal, an equity analyst for Jefferies, believes that the surging initial sales was caused by the pent-up demand coming from die-hard fans of Nintendo, in addition to one of the primary factors of the hybrid console's early success, the launch title The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
'The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild' Pulling Up Nintendo Switch Sales
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild was considered to be the primary launch game for the Nintendo Switch, and so far, it has been able to deliver.
The open-world RPG has received rave reviews, and has claimed the fourth-highest ranking ever on Metacritic.com, a website that aggregates review scores. This makes The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild the best-reviewed game since 2008, when Grand Theft Auto IV was launched for Sony's PlayStation 3.
Will Nintendo Be Able To Keep Momentum?
The biggest question on Nintendo right now is whether it will be able to keep up the momentum that it has gained with the seemingly successful launch of the Nintendo Switch so that it would be able to rise up to the challenge of competing with Sony and Microsoft in the video game industry.
Not only is the feat possible, it can even be considered likely. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild is already being considered one of the best games of all time, which should attract buyers after the initial wave to the hybrid console. After the launch hype dies down, Nintendo has already planned to release Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on April 28, which will bring one of the best-reviewed but underplayed Mario Kart games from the Nintendo Wii U to the Nintendo Switch.
Anticipated titles Arms and Splatoon 2 are said to have a spring and summer release date, respectively, which means that Nintendo can release these titles whenever there is a dip in Nintendo Switch sales. Afterward, arguably Nintendo's biggest name will be coming to the hybrid console with the release of Super Mario Odyssey, which should carry the Nintendo Switch through the holidays.
Nintendo looks like it has a plan, and for its die-hard fans, hopefully the company is able to find success with it.
