The Game Business: Switch 2 is Nintendo's biggest UK launch, but doesn't surpass PS5 or Xbox Series

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Via The Game Business

Nintendo Switch 2 is the fastest-selling Nintendo machine in UK history, NielsenIQ data reveals.

It beat the previous best-selling hardware launch for the company (2010's Nintendo 3DS), and outsold the launch of the Nintendo Switch by more than two to one, the company revealed. Note: The Nintendo Switch was very supply constrained at launch.

Nintendo Switch 1 did over 80,000 units at launch, and Nintendo 3DS managed 113,000, according to Nintendo. NielsenIQ does not share full sales figures.

But it doesn't come close to being the biggest UK console launch of all time. Just looking at consoles (not handhelds), Nintendo Switch 2 is the fourth best-selling console in terms of units (behind PS5, PS4 and Xbox Series) and the third best-ever in terms of revenue (behind PS5 and Xbox Series).

The UK market has often been a challenging one for Nintendo. The Nintendo Wii was the best-selling console of that generation globally, but was behind Xbox 360 in the UK. Even Nintendo Switch, which has been the best-selling console worldwide for the past eight years, sits behind PS4 in the UK. It's a hyper competitive console market, with all three platforms enjoying decent market share.

Here are the best-selling game console launches in the UK excluding handhelds (units)

1. PlayStation 5
2. PlayStation 4
3. Xbox Series
4. Nintendo Switch 2
5. PlayStation 3
6. Xbox One
7. Nintendo Wii
8. Nintendo Switch
9. Xbox 360
10. Xbox One X

*Week One is a Sunday – Saturday period. Therefore some game consoles only have two days of sales, whereas others have five days.
 
Price is the big factor after all. Microsoft should think twice before putting their games at $80.

I was expecting NS2 to at least beating Xbox Series, but again, price.
 
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Tracked days.

PS5 - 2 days
PS4 - 2 days
PS3 - 3 days
Xbox Series - 5 days
Switch 2 - 2 days
Switch 1 - 2 days

Switch 2 is a number 2 or 3 with 2 days tracked. (Waiting for confirmation)
 
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You can easily walk in and get one at the local Smyths toys and scalper prices are down. This news is hardly surprising, it is a lukewarm launch by the standards of these FOMO-driven times.
 
Different markets. In France, Nintendo is incredibly popular, while in the UK, Nintendo has often played third fiddle behind PS and Xbox. There was never any chance that Switch 2 would rival PS5 in the UK, and even Xbox is strong competition in that market for Nintendo. In France it will be easy for Switch 2 to outsell PS5 though.
 
The huge price and the virtual game card bullcrap is gonna end up doing more damage than favors.
Most people bought Switchs because of how flexible those were in terms of sharing(either by family or simply have a base Switch and one for travels).
I'm even willing risk to say the virtual game card could lead to some law problems, since people need to directly contact support for help.
 
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Saber said:
The huge price and the virtual game card bullcrap is gonna end up doing more damage than favors.
Most people bought Switchs because of how flexible those were in terms of sharing(either by family or simply have a base Switch and one for travels).
I'm even willing to risk to say the virtual game card could lead to some law problems, since people need to directly contact support for help.
Click to expand...
Or, the UK is just a PS dominated market, given that we already have confirmation of Switch 2 breaking records in other markets.
 
Sephiran said:
Or, the UK is just a PS dominated market, given that we already have confirmation of Switch 2 breaking records in other markets.
Click to expand...

Totally, not gonna discard that.
But the whole virtual shit game card lead to frustration and confusion to some people. People might get worried for their games not long working on one Switch or another and like I said, seems like those problems requires somehow the direct help of support.
I would rather wait and see if they resolve around this issue or get way more transparent before getting a Switch 2.
 
Lol it's the UK. If that's the victory lap Nintendo haters wanna take, please, by all means. Maybe go celebrate with some beans on toast or a jar or marmite, too.
 
I predict a slow start for Switch 2. Initial numbers will be high because there's always an early adopter rush, but I expect sales to slump a bit between now and Christmas. There's no must-have factor right now, the hybrid format is no longer novel, the price is higher and there's no BotW-tier release driving it.

I might be wrong, I often am, but that's my take. Nintendo's major base is among families and they'll probably be looking at this as a future upgrade, rather than a must have purchase. That and, historically, Nintendo are always at their best when they innovate, they struggle more when they iterate. Switch 2 is probably the most iterative console they've ever done, so there's that too.
 
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