Nintendo Switch 2 breaks company record with 3.5 million units sold worldwide in four days
Tokyo: Nintendo has announced that it sold an unprecedented 3.5 million units of its new Switch 2 console globally within the first four days of release, setting a new benchmark for the company’s hardware sales.
"This is the highest global sales level for any Nintendo hardware within the first four days," the Japanese video game giant said in a statement.
The Switch 2, an upgraded version of Nintendo’s hugely successful Switch console, features a larger screen and more processing power. It was released last Thursday to a global swell of fan excitement that included sold-out pre-orders and midnight store openings.
Since its debut in 2017, the original Switch has sold 152 million units worldwide, making it the third best-selling video game console in history. Its popularity surged during the pandemic with titles like Animal Crossing, cementing its place in gaming culture.
Analysts predicted last week that Nintendo could score record early sales with the Switch 2 -- but it remains to be seen if it can match the performance of its predecessor.
Challenges for Nintendo include uncertainty over US trade tariffs and whether it can convince enough people to pay the high price for its new device.
The Switch 2 costs $449.99 in the United States, compared to a launch price of $299.99 for the original Switch.
Both are hybrid consoles which can connect to a TV or be played on the go.
New games such as "Donkey Kong Bananza" and "Mario Kart World" -- which allow players to go exploring off-grid -- are also more expensive than existing Switch titles.
Nintendo forecasts it will sell 15 million Switch 2 consoles in the current financial year, roughly equal to the original in the same period after its release.
The Switch 2 "is priced relatively high" compared to its predecessor, so it "will not be easy" to keep initial momentum going, the company's president Shuntaro Furukawa said at a financial results briefing in May.
The Switch 2 has eight times the memory of the first Switch, and its controllers, which attach with magnets, can also be used like a desktop computer mouse.
New functions allowing users to chat as they play online and temporarily share games with friends could also be a big draw for young audiences used to watching game streamers.
Success is crucial for Nintendo: while the "Super Mario" maker is diversifying into theme parks and hit movies, around 90 percent of its revenue still comes from the Switch business, analysts say.
AFP