6 ms·

Nintendo sells 2.4M Switch consoles worldwide in first month, above forecast

107 points by shawndumas 10y ago

tgb 10y ago
It's amusing that Breath of the Wild has sold more than the system it runs on. Ars Technica had an article on that. [1] And it's not because of the Wii U version (those are counted separately). [1] https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/04/why-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-is-the-biggest-system-seller-in-history/ https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/04/why-zelda-breath-of-t...
- TheCoreh 10y ago
  > Some tourists and importers could be buying region-free copies of Breath of the Wild to use on Switch consoles they bought in other countries, but that doesn't seem like it would be all that common. Oh, you'd be surprised. Since Nintendo officially left Brazil, all copies sold here are imported that way.
  - Larrikin 10y ago
    For me one of the biggest selling points is that it is the first home console that isn't region locked.
    - Pulcinella 10y ago
      The PS3 wasn't region locked except for Strangelhold (because there was also a movie on the disc) and Persona 4 Arena because???
    - Razengan 10y ago
      The Apple TV 4 isn't region-locked either, and is probably the easiest one to have games from multiple regions on. I have games and apps from both the US and JP iTunes stores side by side on my home screen.
- jldugger 10y ago
  Most likely theory, IMO: people preordered Zelda for the discount (BB and AMZN offer like 20 percent off MSRP), expecting to nab a Switch later, but later hasn't yet arrived. Based on ebay sales rates, maybe soonish.
  - trapperkeeper79 10y ago
    Yes .. the early discounts on games explains it. Very odd from the typical way discounting happens on XBox, etc. Typical games lose value a month or two after release. Nintendo crap either stays the same, or goes up in value because of lack of availability.
  - lanna 10y ago
    two points of anecdotal evidence: i bought a special edition to preserve and a retail version that i'm playing. my brother-in-law bought a switch retail version but is playing a wii u digital download.
    - supercoder 10y ago
      Preserve it for what exactly?
      - deleted 10y ago
        [deleted]
kemayo 10y ago
Particularly impressive given that they still seem to be selling out instantly, so this is them being supply-constrained rather than meeting demand.
- azhenley 10y ago
  I check everyday, hoping that I can order one! Still no luck.
  - grogenaut 10y ago
    I got one by waiting on best buy to get a supply in and then went to the store. In seattle, it seems, no one actually goes to the store anymore. My wife actaully stopped by on her way home. Tweet from BB was at 10 am. She went by at 4:30p and the employees didn't even know they were there. They were under lock and key in the front and you had to ask.
  - criddell 10y ago
    Have you thought about using a bot to do this for you?
  - bryanh 10y ago
    Nice little Python script I whipped up to poll Amazon Prime Now to get my Switch: https://gist.github.com/bryanhelmig/3225bf42e5d2b8fb0cb4b720ac2d3c3b https://gist.github.com/bryanhelmig/3225bf42e5d2b8fb0cb4b720...
    - tzs 10y ago
      I've only done a little Python, so am not up on the finer points of the language, so a question if I may. I'm a bit confused by the use of the if __name__ == "__main__": construct in this script. My understanding of that construct was that it is true when Python is invoked directly on the containing file, and is false if the file is being invoked as a module loaded from something else. In your script, the parts that are outside the "if __name__" construct do not appear to be things that would be useful for something else to load as a module. So my question is why aren't they inside the "if __name__" construct?
nodesocket 10y ago
I am bullish on Nintendo and considering adding a position via over the counter (ADR) NTDOY. My concern is that they continue to have supply issues unable to ramp up production to meet demand. Perhaps this is intentional. My friend just got a Switch and absolutely loves it. He has been playing Zelda nearly non-stop since he got it.
- agumonkey 10y ago
  They probably allow themselve a threshold of demand over stock. Who would want storage costs and less needy customers :)
copperx 10y ago
Having taken a look at a Switch, I'm a bit surprised that a brand new portable console has such a low resolution screen. If Nintendo is trying to compete with mobile phone gaming, wouldn't it be logical that they offer a better screen (or at the very least comparable with a mid-end phone)?
- ploxiln 10y ago
  There's more to graphics than pixels - framerate, latency, color etc. And besides, there's more to gaming than graphics - notably, input/controls. That other stuff is important enough to make the Switch easily better than any higher-resolution phone for serious games.
  - grogenaut 10y ago
    I found myself mezmerized by a twitch stream on a computer 2 desks over today for about 3 minutes. I have good eyes but that's like palm pre resolution at that distance. Pixels don't matter as much as engaging game play, engaging graphics or interesting style, or story. Whatever argument you come up with I'll just counter with books and tetris.
  - michaelmrose 10y ago
    You are so so right about input
- twotwotwo 10y ago
  Console-level graphics can be demanding; my wild guess is, this was their compromise to allow 60fps + complex scenes + OK battery life. Makes more sense to me as a factor than panel cost/availability (like you say, there are cheap devices with denser screens) or some hard CPU/GPU limitation (since it can output 1080p docked). Maybe in a year or two, with a revised GPU or the next process node or whatever, they do a Switch HD that delivers the better resolution, maintaining battery life. (Or they go for no-glasses 3D like the 3DS. That would be pretty counter to mobile gadget trends, but this is Nintendo.)
  - 10y ago
rileytg 10y ago
to be the voice of reason here: botw is amazing. it's no surprise. if you played any of the franchise growing up, you prolly love it– zelda. botw takes that love and doubles you down.
paul7986 10y ago
Hmmm it's probably because of Zelda! Though subjectively the Switch isn't all that innovative like the Wii. Also, I do not see a ton of compelling games scheduled, as the next game is Super Mario Kart 8 which is a rehash from the Wii U. Im hoping Microsoft's next console has some innovative features like their Illumiroom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGGMv9RnJIA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGGMv9RnJIA
- awinder 10y ago
  The form factor seems decently innovative to me anyways. This is definitely the most polished implementation of a console that travels from tv to handheld that I've owned.
  - lewisl9029 10y ago
    The controllers seem pretty innovative to me too. They attach to the sides of the console for single player portable play, and can be detached to allow for stationary 2-player play. If I was still a student that alone would be a killer feature for me, since I could bring it into school to play with friends without having to own multiple consoles between us. I wasn't really a fan of the previous few generations of Nintendo consoles, but I do think they knocked it out of the park this time. The Switch is an marvelously designed piece of gaming hardware.
- nicky0 10y ago
  Zelda is a big contributing factor, but I suspect the core appeal of the Switch is the central innovation of the convertible portable/home hybrid. Not just the idea of "portable you can plug in to you TV", but in the specific details of how they've done it.
  - k__ 10y ago
    Like with the Wii, all the innovation is nothing without games. I still regret buying the Wii, besides Mario and Zelda it was mostly mini-game-collections :\

107 points by shawndumas 10y ago

tgb 10y ago

It's amusing that Breath of the Wild has sold more than the system it runs on. Ars Technica had an article on that. [1] And it's not because of the Wii U version (those are counted separately). [1] https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/04/why-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-is-the-biggest-system-seller-in-history/ https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/04/why-zelda-breath-of-t...

TheCoreh 10y ago
> Some tourists and importers could be buying region-free copies of Breath of the Wild to use on Switch consoles they bought in other countries, but that doesn't seem like it would be all that common. Oh, you'd be surprised. Since Nintendo officially left Brazil, all copies sold here are imported that way.
- Larrikin 10y ago
  For me one of the biggest selling points is that it is the first home console that isn't region locked.
  - Pulcinella 10y ago
    The PS3 wasn't region locked except for Strangelhold (because there was also a movie on the disc) and Persona 4 Arena because???
  - Razengan 10y ago
    The Apple TV 4 isn't region-locked either, and is probably the easiest one to have games from multiple regions on. I have games and apps from both the US and JP iTunes stores side by side on my home screen.
jldugger 10y ago
Most likely theory, IMO: people preordered Zelda for the discount (BB and AMZN offer like 20 percent off MSRP), expecting to nab a Switch later, but later hasn't yet arrived. Based on ebay sales rates, maybe soonish.
- trapperkeeper79 10y ago
  Yes .. the early discounts on games explains it. Very odd from the typical way discounting happens on XBox, etc. Typical games lose value a month or two after release. Nintendo crap either stays the same, or goes up in value because of lack of availability.
- lanna 10y ago
  two points of anecdotal evidence: i bought a special edition to preserve and a retail version that i'm playing. my brother-in-law bought a switch retail version but is playing a wii u digital download.
  - supercoder 10y ago
    Preserve it for what exactly?
    - deleted 10y ago
      [deleted]

kemayo 10y ago

Particularly impressive given that they still seem to be selling out instantly, so this is them being supply-constrained rather than meeting demand.

azhenley 10y ago
I check everyday, hoping that I can order one! Still no luck.
- grogenaut 10y ago
  I got one by waiting on best buy to get a supply in and then went to the store. In seattle, it seems, no one actually goes to the store anymore. My wife actaully stopped by on her way home. Tweet from BB was at 10 am. She went by at 4:30p and the employees didn't even know they were there. They were under lock and key in the front and you had to ask.
- criddell 10y ago
  Have you thought about using a bot to do this for you?
- bryanh 10y ago
  Nice little Python script I whipped up to poll Amazon Prime Now to get my Switch: https://gist.github.com/bryanhelmig/3225bf42e5d2b8fb0cb4b720ac2d3c3b https://gist.github.com/bryanhelmig/3225bf42e5d2b8fb0cb4b720...
  - tzs 10y ago
    I've only done a little Python, so am not up on the finer points of the language, so a question if I may. I'm a bit confused by the use of the if __name__ == "__main__": construct in this script. My understanding of that construct was that it is true when Python is invoked directly on the containing file, and is false if the file is being invoked as a module loaded from something else. In your script, the parts that are outside the "if __name__" construct do not appear to be things that would be useful for something else to load as a module. So my question is why aren't they inside the "if __name__" construct?

nodesocket 10y ago

I am bullish on Nintendo and considering adding a position via over the counter (ADR) NTDOY. My concern is that they continue to have supply issues unable to ramp up production to meet demand. Perhaps this is intentional. My friend just got a Switch and absolutely loves it. He has been playing Zelda nearly non-stop since he got it.

agumonkey 10y ago
They probably allow themselve a threshold of demand over stock. Who would want storage costs and less needy customers :)

copperx 10y ago

Having taken a look at a Switch, I'm a bit surprised that a brand new portable console has such a low resolution screen. If Nintendo is trying to compete with mobile phone gaming, wouldn't it be logical that they offer a better screen (or at the very least comparable with a mid-end phone)?

ploxiln 10y ago
There's more to graphics than pixels - framerate, latency, color etc. And besides, there's more to gaming than graphics - notably, input/controls. That other stuff is important enough to make the Switch easily better than any higher-resolution phone for serious games.
- grogenaut 10y ago
  I found myself mezmerized by a twitch stream on a computer 2 desks over today for about 3 minutes. I have good eyes but that's like palm pre resolution at that distance. Pixels don't matter as much as engaging game play, engaging graphics or interesting style, or story. Whatever argument you come up with I'll just counter with books and tetris.
- michaelmrose 10y ago
  You are so so right about input
twotwotwo 10y ago
Console-level graphics can be demanding; my wild guess is, this was their compromise to allow 60fps + complex scenes + OK battery life. Makes more sense to me as a factor than panel cost/availability (like you say, there are cheap devices with denser screens) or some hard CPU/GPU limitation (since it can output 1080p docked). Maybe in a year or two, with a revised GPU or the next process node or whatever, they do a Switch HD that delivers the better resolution, maintaining battery life. (Or they go for no-glasses 3D like the 3DS. That would be pretty counter to mobile gadget trends, but this is Nintendo.)
- 10y ago

rileytg 10y ago

to be the voice of reason here: botw is amazing. it's no surprise. if you played any of the franchise growing up, you prolly love it– zelda. botw takes that love and doubles you down.

paul7986 10y ago

Hmmm it's probably because of Zelda! Though subjectively the Switch isn't all that innovative like the Wii. Also, I do not see a ton of compelling games scheduled, as the next game is Super Mario Kart 8 which is a rehash from the Wii U. Im hoping Microsoft's next console has some innovative features like their Illumiroom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGGMv9RnJIA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGGMv9RnJIA

awinder 10y ago
The form factor seems decently innovative to me anyways. This is definitely the most polished implementation of a console that travels from tv to handheld that I've owned.
- lewisl9029 10y ago
  The controllers seem pretty innovative to me too. They attach to the sides of the console for single player portable play, and can be detached to allow for stationary 2-player play. If I was still a student that alone would be a killer feature for me, since I could bring it into school to play with friends without having to own multiple consoles between us. I wasn't really a fan of the previous few generations of Nintendo consoles, but I do think they knocked it out of the park this time. The Switch is an marvelously designed piece of gaming hardware.
nicky0 10y ago
Zelda is a big contributing factor, but I suspect the core appeal of the Switch is the central innovation of the convertible portable/home hybrid. Not just the idea of "portable you can plug in to you TV", but in the specific details of how they've done it.
- k__ 10y ago
  Like with the Wii, all the innovation is nothing without games. I still regret buying the Wii, besides Mario and Zelda it was mostly mini-game-collections :\