Nintendo Switch Dominates As Best-Selling Console Of 2020
It looks like Mario has climbed to the top of Princess Peach's castle and given Bowser the boot as the Nintendo Switch has continued to break records in 2020. While the handheld/fixed console hybrid has been out since 2017, the Switch shows no signs of slowing it down as it's once again the world's best selling console. Putting the figures on paper, this is the second year in a row Nintendo has claimed the crown.
There's no escaping the fact that all eyes are on the next generation of games consoles as Microsoft and Sony prepare to butt heads with the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. For the time being though, the Nintendo Switch is the king of the castle by outpacing the Playstation 4 and Xbox One.
Nintendo may get flak for being a family-friendly system that misses out on big hitter AAA franchises, however, the Switch has tossed critics aside by adding everything from Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus to Resident Evil VII (in Japan) to its catalogue.
Nintendo is keeping its plans for what system comes next a secret, but with the Switch still going great guns, it makes sense that it'll hold onto its golden goose a little longer. You only have to look at the success of the PS4 between its 2013 release and now to see there's plenty of life left in the Switch yet. According to Nintendo, the Switch just secured its biggest October ever.
In October 2020, the Switch sold a whopping 735,000 units. This makes it the second-biggest October for a games console ever- coming behind the Wii's 807,000 sales in October 2008. Importantly, this is is a 136% increase year-on-year for the Switch and Switch Lite. It also makes the Switch the best-selling console for 23 months in a row in the USA.
Yes, everyone might be looking ahead at the PS5 and Xbox Series X, but that hasn't stopped Nintendo quietly dominating the market. Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser said, "Seeing encouraging sales growth like this in the fourth October of Nintendo Switch proves to us that the system has many more years and great games yet to come". With the Nintendo Switch now having sold 22.5 million units in the USA and 68 million worldwide, Bowser (great name) is right to be celebrating.
When it comes to October's sales boom, it could have something to do with the fact the Animal Crossing-themed Switch that went out of stock earlier this year officially came back onto shelves in October. The holiday season is just around the corner, and although a lot of us will be buying a next-gen console, the Switch is also sure to be under many a tree thanks to upcoming releases for Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity.
Even if 2021 will probably be handed over to the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X (we're guessing PS5), at least Nintendo can sleep soundly for the rest of this year.
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Images via Nintendo
