Switch Is Leading Nintendo To Its Best Software Sales Performance Since '95

An NPD analyst notes that Nintendo is headed for an incredible milestone.

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NPD Analyst Mat Piscatella shared via Twitter that software sales for the Nintendo Switch are on pace to eclipse Nintendo sales across all platforms since tracking began in 1995.

Nintendo has always had a great track-record for sales when it came to first-party titles, but third-party support on the Wii and Wii U resulted in some lackluster software libraries and sales numbers. Nintendo is cultivating a much better third-party relationship with the Nintendo Switch, including a major campaign to include indie games on the hybrid console. 

Mat clarified in the thread of tweets that the numbers he's speaking on are for a calendar year since the launch of the device, so we'll have to wait until March next year to see what the full picture is like for software sales. The console has heavy hitters like Super Mario Odyssey and DOOM arriving this holiday along with indie darlings like Golf Story, SteamWorld Dig 2, Rocket League, and Stardew Valley bolstering their stout software collection as we head toward March, so things are looking pretty positive.

Charles Singletary Jr keeps the updates flowing as the News Editor, breaking stories while investigating the biggest topics in gaming and technology. He's pretty active on Twitter, so feel free to reach out to him @The_CSJR. Got a hot tip? Email him at Charles.Singletary@Shacknews.com.

From The Chatty
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    September 28, 2017 3:45 PM

    Charles Singletary posted a new article, Switch Is Leading Nintendo To Its Best Software Sales Performance Since '95

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      September 28, 2017 5:13 PM

      Doomed since 1889

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      September 28, 2017 5:40 PM

      They should get out of the console business already.

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      September 28, 2017 6:02 PM

      This article makes no damn sense. Only console released by Nintendo in '95 was virtual boy and it sure as hell wasn't leading sales. Only software being sold by big N in big volume in '95 we're SNES and GB titles.

      • Zek legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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        September 28, 2017 6:24 PM

        It says 95 is when the tracking began. But in any case gaming was a smaller market before then.

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      September 28, 2017 7:19 PM

      I saw my first switch in the wild yesterday. It wasn't a rooftop swinger's ball, but it was two eight year olds on the playground playing Mario kart happily. I must say, it didn't look like shit as I expected.

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        September 28, 2017 7:48 PM

        The other gaming hardware I most use is a PC with a GTX 1080 and a i7 7700k. Fellow Switch evangelist Milleh has a PC that is somehow faster than mine.

        Games look awesome on the Switch, full stop. The screen is fantastic, first party games are gorgeous, and with the exception of Zelda (which was always a 30fps series) the games are pinned at 60fps.

        Shits good dude

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          September 28, 2017 7:51 PM

          Yes, I have to admit the same. Nintendo's not making the choices I wish they would make, but that doesn't mean they're bad choices.

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            September 29, 2017 7:48 AM

            The switch definitely seemed like the right choice. It played to where they're strongest which is the handheld market and offered something no one else was really doing. Plus it meant their great first party studios would be all focused towards a single product rather than split between the handheld and console.

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          September 29, 2017 3:25 AM

          I was dreaming about playing Mario Odyssey last night, so good

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          September 29, 2017 4:16 AM

          After Gran Turismo Sport, I'm going to stop buying games for a while and clear the important stuff in my backlog. But eventually I want to get a Switch, maybe once it gets a bit cheaper or a revised system comes out.

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        September 29, 2017 8:46 AM

        I have yet to see one in the wild myself.... I was quite shocked I didn't come across one while traveling thru airports on two different trips.

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      September 29, 2017 5:50 AM

      I've been itching for a switch. I need to resist.

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        October 1, 2017 6:30 AM

        It's fantastic. I hate consoles and they've managed to completely hook me. I'll play docked and then when it is time to go to sleep I pick it up and go play in bed. I've done a couple of flights with it as well and it really helps the time fly by.

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      September 29, 2017 7:25 AM

      Nintendo is doing great in the first party games, and attracting some decent third-party as well. I''ve still only bought Zelda/MK8 for mine, but played a few demos. Wasn't a fan of the original Splatoon and ARMS didn't do anything for me. I figure my next purchase will be Mario next month, then who knows after that. I'm not exactly the target audience for the Switch. I abhor mobile gaming so my Switch pretty much stays docked, and if its something on multiple platforms, I gravitate in the other directions (NBA 2K18 on the XB1) for performance/storage reasons alone.

      Still, this is probably the best console they have released since the GameCube IMO.

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      September 29, 2017 7:48 AM

      I'm hoping for a decent bundle around the holidays. I'd like to ditch our WiiU and get a switch to replace it. My kids played the WiiU a ton at first, but once they got a PS4, they barely touched the WiiU.

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        September 29, 2017 8:14 AM

        There will be bundles, but I doubt we see any great deals on them.

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      September 29, 2017 8:45 AM

      Darkest Dungeon is coming to Switch.
      https://twitter.com/RedHookStudios/status/913778264623083520

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