The Switch's unstoppable sales momentum barrel through 2017. Nintendo confidently announces its worldwide sales target for the next fiscal year is 20 million units.
As of this writing, the Japanese gaming firm has already sold over 10 million units since launch in March 2017. With a running target of 14 million console sales before the current fiscal year ends, persistent demand for the hybrid game system edges them onward.
Even though there were reported hardware issues and supposedly missing features, consumers remain generally happy with their purchase.
Sales Forecast
The Switch's first anniversary is almost just a month away and industry analysts agree that it has exceeded all expectations. Nintendo's new target was officially confirmed by Tatsumi Kimishima, the company president, during an interview with Mainichi, a Japanese publication.
"In order to be playable in the long term, the second year is crucial. Our task is to add more users, including people who barely touch game consoles," shared Kimishima.
He also noted that the company's success depends on the firm's efforts to establish the hybrid device as a console with a "long lifespan."
Comparison With Other Consoles
On the other hand, barely a year into its lifespan, the Switch has already cemented the fact that it's a contender. Nintendo's product held its ground even among other current-generation systems that boast better graphics, performance, exclusives, and more.
In fact, the console's momentum prompted gaming industry experts to compare it to Sony's PlayStation 2. Moreover, others easily liken the Switch to its predecessor, the Wii, which Kimishima seems to agree with.
Interestingly, the manufacturer's idea of creating a hybrid game system that offers portability, albeit shorter battery life than dedicated portable game systems, with an option to play it on a TV, translated quite well into the actual product itself.
The Company's Strategy
Last year, Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America president, admitted that the biggest mistake the company made with the Wii U is the lack of third-party support. He told fans that the Nintendo Switch is better prepared with a lineup of first-party and third-party titles, which will be released strategically to engage customers.
The firm plans to continue the same strategy and do what it does best, make excellent first-party titles. Last year's top-rated games for the Switch such as Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Splatoon 2, and ARMS were all developed in-house.
Nintendo's games are inherently designed for the family demographic. Other genres are apparently best left to external developers. If the Switch continues to receive great software and support, the 20 million goal for the next fiscal year is as good as reached.
