The Nintendo Switch enjoyed its best week to date in terms of retail sales in North America: when combined with the figures for the new Nintendo Switch Lite system, Nintendo moved more than 830,000 console units in the U.S. from November 24 to 30, while Canadian weekly sales figures also reached an all-time high. With Sony and Microsoft fans likely looking ahead to next-gen consoles in the PlayStation 5 and Xb0x Scarlett, Nintendo was able to emerge as a winner on Black Friday.
Originally launched in 2017, the Nintendo Switch offered intrigue as a hybrid console that allowed players to use the system as either a portable device or a traditional stationary system within their households. The allure of a dual-function system combined with a strong library of legacy IPs like Zelda, Pokémon and Super Mario Bros. offered gamers a legitimate alternative to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox-One and propelled sales of the Switch to the point that they outpaced its initial production run. According to Nintendo, the Switch was the fastest-selling console in the company’s history, beating a mark set by the original Nintendo Wii (which would go on to amass more than 100 million lifetime sales).
Nintendo revealed its record-breaking Thanksgiving Week sales in a press release via Business Wire. In addition to the Switch's strong sales in the U.S., Screen Rant has also confirmed with a PR rep that the system set new sales marks in the Canadian market as well. The Switch's strong performance in North America is undoubtedly welcome news for Nintendo - earlier this year, the company slashed its internal Switch sales projections for the previous fiscal year by 15 percent.
Thanksgiving Week was also a good one for Nintendo in terms of software sales. Pokémon Sword and Shield reached a combined sales total over 3 million units in the U.S. despite having launched just over a week earlier on November 15. Meanwhile, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe reached 8.5 million units sold, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate crossed the 8 million sale threshold and Super Mario Odyssey reached 6.5 million in lifetime sales.
Although some prognosticators opined that the Nintendo Switch could be losing momentum when Nintendo lowered its own sales forecast for the console earlier this year, it looks as though the system is still making a significant cultural impact and building its fan and player bases. While PS4 and Xbox-One players begin to shift some of their focus toward the ninth-generation consoles currently in development, the Switch continues to hold its value thanks to its unique features and a library laden with topflight exclusive titles. The addition of the Switch Lite and the myriad of console bundle deals available to open the holiday shopping season undoubtedly played a part in the Switch's big week as well.
Source: Business Wire