Nintendo Switch sales are an hot topic these days, with the hybrid handheld/home console launching tomorrow worldwide at a price tag of $/€ 299 and £ 279.
As reported by Gamespot, research firm SuperData released a report that includes a new forecast of Nintendo Switch sales. According to SuperData, the console will sell around 5 million units this year.
Nintendo is gearing up for a slow-and-steady release of its new console. Launching much earlier in the year than its predecessors, we expect the Switch to initially appeal mostly to the loyal fanbase, before a broader, more mainstream audience adopts it.
The biggest challenge for Nintendo is to convince console gamers to purchase the Switch as a second device, as many have already committed to a PlayStation 4 (53.4 million install base, worldwide) or Xbox One (26 million).
Asking $300 for a new console without a bundled game is a comparatively higher barrier to entry for consumers, considering that the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are already discounted and come with a free game.
We've reviewed the console yesterday. Dave Aubrey rated it 9.3/10 and said:
But I’d argue that Nintendo has succeeded with the value proposition. What we have here is a small, streamlined console which is very serviceable in the home on the TV – though will likely falter when running multiplatform games without heavy optimization. On the go, however, when considered as the world’s most powerful dedicated handheld gaming system, it’s an incredibly impressive piece of kit, especially considering the graphics on display in games like Breath of the Wild. At 720p the games look crisp on the handheld’s screen, while on the TV some games struggle to hit 1080p – and others, such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, hit the mark perfectly.
Of course, adoption will be faster if Nintendo can consistently provide high-quality games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Our reviewer rated the game 9.8/10 with the following summary:
Minor technical problems aside, this is one of gaming's greatest and most storied series returning with something we've never seen before. Breaking all the conventions of the series, and even a few general gaming conventions, Breath of the Wild is essential for any self-respecting gamer. A new bar has been set in open world gaming.
About the author: With over two decades of experience in gaming journalism, Alessio Palumbo has led the gaming vertical at Wccftech since August 2015. He started working at a young age for Italian websites like Everyeye.it, Gamestar.it, Nextgame.it, and Multiplayer.it before kickstarting the indie English-language publication Worlds Factory as its founder and Editor in Chief. In the last decade, he has coordinated the overall output of Wccftech's gaming section, managed PR relations, assigned reviews, produced daily news coverage, edited gaming content as needed, and delivered game reviews. Arguably, his trademark content is the long series of exclusive developer interviews that have been cited by Wikipedia and by the biggest news media and gaming publications. His passion for technology also makes him knowledgeable when it comes to gaming hardware and tech. His favorite genres include RPGs, MMORPGs, and action/adventure games.
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