GameStop exec thinks the Switch could outsell the Wii

[midian182]

Despite some Joy-Con issues and Nintendo’s insistence that dead/stuck pixels aren’t a defect, the Nintendo Switch is selling like hotcakes. SuperData reported last week that the device sold around 1.5 million units in its first week. Now, a GameStop exec says it has the potential to outsell the Wii.

Speaking to GameRant, GameStop’s senior director of merchandising, Eric Bright, called the Switch a “transformational piece of technology” that could go on to perform better than Nintendo’s 2006 Wii, which, with more than 100 million+ units sold, is the fifth best-selling console of all time.

The Nintendo Switch is off to a start right now that it could possibly eclipse the Wii. Initial sales on this have been phenomenal. I can’t give straight numbers, but I can say we’re seeing one of the highest attach rates of software and accessories to a device that we’ve seen in a long time

Nintendo itself has yet to release any sales figures for the Switch but may do so in its next earnings report on April 27.

If the Switch does eventually pass the Wii on the best-selling consoles list, don’t expect it to happen anytime soon. It took four years after release for the Wii to reach 67 million sales, and it didn’t hit 101 million units until 2012 – six years after launch.

Nintendo had originally anticipated that the Switch would sell 40 million units over the next four years, but it may be rethinking those predictions given how many retailers can’t keep up with demand. The handheld hybrid is certainly on course to quickly outperform the Wii U, which only sold around 14 million units.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/68600-gamestop-exec-thinks-switch-could-outsell-wii.html

 

[BiffMcMac]

I suspect anytime you don't produce enough product to meet customer demand the perception is that its selling like "hotcakes". Knowing Nintendo this has likely been the plan all along.
Its also interesting that speculation on the part of a Gamestop employee is news... just sayin'

 

[yRaz]

I hope it does outsell the wii so all the haters will just shut up about how they aren't buying the switch.

 

[Invizibleyez]

The artificial sales isn't really artificial. People are buying them to resell them to take advantage of the low stock. Look up nintendo switch on Amazon. There's over 500 other sellers selling it for over 400 dollars.

 

[treetops]

Not to hard most people dont even know the wii u exists, I brought it to my bro in laws house last week he said whats a wii u? I was like its like the super nint up from the nintendo...

some advice completely rename it or call it the wii 3 or something geeze, maybe put Nintendo back in the name

 

[J spot]

I suspect anytime you don't produce enough product to meet customer demand the perception is that its selling like "hotcakes". Knowing Nintendo this has likely been the plan all along.
Its also interesting that speculation on the part of a Gamestop employee is news... just sayin'

The logic doesn't make sense, due to the high amount of Switch's that they have sold and shipped. I would understand your logic if the number of Switch sold was something like 400,000, but it's not. Nintendo made 2 million Switch to sale during the first month, and since it IS currently selling like hotcakes, they have doubled the next year's production from 8 million to 16 million. Perhaps you deeply believe in the Switch and believe it is a product that everyone on Earth wants, and 2 million for it's first month, and 16 million for the next year is way to little and so must be a conspiracy.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

First year sales are not indicative of great success. Look at the dreamcast. Or even first year of sales from the wii u. Despite a near silent launch, the sales numbers were still good for a machine with no amazing launch games.

The switch is cool, and is launching after a less then mediocre nintendo system. portable wise, it is a huge ump from the 3dsxl or new 3ds. But launch momentum is a fickle thing.

Now, if nintendo can keep these great sales numbers for, say, 2 years or so, I'll be impressed.

 

[Reehahs]

I hope they keep releasing good titles like Legend of Zelda to keep the momentum going.