Nintendo recently launched a cheaper and more portable handheld-only model of their console with the Switch Lite, and though it got off to great start in Japan – having sold nearly 180,000 units in just three days – in the UK, it’s seen a much slower chart. As GamesIndustry reports, in its debut week, the Switch Lite has sold just 13,500 units in the UK.
However, it seems retailers aren’t too concerned about this start, and expect things to pick up for the handheld-focused system later on in the year. One senior buyer tells GamesIndustry that sales for it are likely to pick up in November and December with the launch of Pokemon Sword and Shield, also mentioning that pre-order for the Pokemon-themed special edition Switch Lite – which is also due out in November – are “strong.”
“Switch Lite was always going to come into its own come Pokémon,” they said. “It’s ideal as a Christmas present, and we expect sales to ratchet up during November and December. Pre-orders for the special Pokémon Switch Lite have been strong.” Another executive also opined that “launch week really isn’t the point of Switch Lite.”
A Switch variant dedicated to handheld experiences seems like it would indeed do well with a Pokemon game to go along with it. There’s also the fact that hardware sales tend to receive a significant boost during the final months of a year, and a cheaper version of the Switch is sure to benefit from that.
In other related news, some reports have been emerging of Switch Lite users facing the infamous Joy-Con drift issues. Read more on that through here.