Move over, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Nintendo Switch is so far the fastest-selling console in the United States, an industry-tracking firm reveals.
According to the NPD Group, Nintendo's handheld hybrid console sold more than 8.7 million devices in the United States in its first 21 months of release, beating out rivals PS4 and Xbox One during the same period after their respective releases. Both Sony's and Microsoft's mentioned gaming consoles were launched in fall 2013.
NIntendo In A Better Spot
In contrast to Switch's impressive sales, the 2012 lackluster Wii U only sold 13.56 million units worldwide, which meant that Nintendo is in a better spot in the market now. Others noted that this was the best year so far for the company in less than a decade.
Apart from its portable console, Nintendo can also add 2018's top-selling software publisher in the United States to its credit. This is a result of the robust sales last year of titles such as Super Mario Odyssey, which has sold over 4.7 million copies; The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, more than 4 million copies; and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, more than 5 million copies.
Nintendo Switch's 'Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'
Nintendo can also boast of spectacular digital game sales for Switch, which soared to 105 percent in the past year. Speaking of titles, it recently released Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on Dec. 7 and in just a span of 11 days, it managed to sell more than 3 million copies in the United States alone, making it the fastest-selling among other titles for the handheld.
"This performance should receive an additional boost from the December release of the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate game," Nintendo said.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate sales also fared well in Europe. Meanwhile, other recent titles are also doing good in the market: Super Mario Party, released in October, has so far sold more than 1.4 million copies, while Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Eevee!, only launched on Nov. 2, sold a combined 2 million copies.
