The Nintendo Switch is, against all expectations, off to a record breaking start- the system has sold 2.74 million units in less than a month, remains perennially sold out, and is Nintendo’s fastest selling hardware ever. And Nintendo, probably emboldened by this success, has set its sights high. Speaking to investors in Q&A session, President Tatsumi Kimishima has admitted that he wants the new system to do as well as the Wii did.
“The truth is we want to raise the installed base of Nintendo Switch up to the same level as Wii,” he said. “As we mentioned during our presentation, Nintendo Switch in America had the fastest start of any Nintendo hardware, despite launching in March. In the video game business, it’s important for consumers to feel that a sales momentum is going to grow, and we are setting a standard with Nintendo Switch to release a continuous string of major software titles from now on.
“And if our sales go according to our plan this fiscal year, we will be able to see Nintendo Switch gaining the momentum in which it can approach relative parity with Wii afterwards. Plus, considering that Nintendo Switch is a home console video game system that you can take with you on the go so you can play anytime, anywhere, with anyone, we think there will be households that feel as though one is not really enough. This is another point that drives us to match the scale of Wii’s popularity with Nintendo Switch.”
They are on the right track with the start- but the Wii sold 102 million units worldwide, so they have a very long way to go. I am far more confident in Nintendo and the Switch now than I was before (and I was one of the more positive folks about it to begin with)- but can they actually match the Wii? That is something that remains to be seen.