Nintendo is hoping to sell 18 million Switch units this fiscal year. The company has seen great success since the launch of the Switch, with many Game of the Year contenders decorating the console’s burgeoning back catalog.
Nintendo Switch is the first portable home console. For the first time, you can play a big Mario adventure like Super Mario Odyssey on the go, anywhere. Nintendo has also been doing its own paid online service. Nintendo Switch Online features cloud based saving, and access to a growing list of NES titles. Combined with a robust selection of independent games and big 1st party titles, there’s a lot going for the Switch in the current video game market. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate alone outsold the lifetime sales of the Wii U in under four months, showing how big Nintendo’s comeback was from the disappointing Wii U.
During Nintendo’s latest financial briefing, company president Shuntaro Furukawa said Nintendo plans to sell 18 million consoles during this fiscal year. The reasons for this, he says, are as follows:
Furukawa would conclude that with a robust software lineup and the Switch’s various ways to play, Nintendo hopes to achieve its plan of selling the number of units estimated. Furukawa is not wrong when he says Nintendo has a notable lineup for 2019. This year sees the release of plenty of exclusive titles that are likely to do well. In June, Super Mario Maker 2 will be released. The first Mario Maker on Wii U was an amazing success, and very popular for streams. Mario Maker 2 should be a big factor in helping Nintendo achieve its planned numbers. Later in the year, Pokémon Sword and Shield will also be released. The core Pokémon games always do well, so this should be no exception.
“Based on factors such as a steady expansion of the hardware and software businesses and a growth in sales volume considering the momentum possessed by Nintendo Switch since the turn of the year, and the software lineup planned for this fiscal year.”
Of course, we also have Animal Crossing, Luigi’s Mansion 3, the Link’s Awakening remake, and more. Nintendo is having its E3 Direct on June 11, where we’ll likely hear about most, if not all, of these titles. With so many exclusive titles, Nintendo has positioned the Switch as the console to have. This is not even counting games with no release date, such as Metroid Prime 4 and Bayonetta 3. Even if the Switch’s sales fall short of 18 million, Nintendo should still have a good year thanks to its 2019 lineup.
Next: 20 Switch Games Confirmed Coming In 2019 (And 5 That Are Possibilities)
Source: Nintendo