September was a busy month for Nintendo - though October through December aren't any quieter - as the company made a big push on multiple fronts. It seems to have paid off, however, with Nintendo of America highlighting some significant positives from the most recent NPD US results.
It was a notable month in terms of releases - the likes of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle had a first full month on Switch, while Metroid: Samus Returns arrived on 3DS. On top of that there was the SNES Classic Edition, too.
As a result Nintendo had a fantastic set of results, notably with its systems claiming 'two thirds' of overall hardware sales, with Switch coming out on top overall. The press release excerpts are below.
In September, the Nintendo Switch system was once again the top-selling current-generation console hardware, according to the NPD Group, which tracks video game sales in the United States. This marks the third straight month that Nintendo Switch has been No. 1, and the fifth time overall in the seven months since its launch. Nintendo Switch has already surpassed 2 million units sold in the U.S. alone, and has yet to go through its first holiday shopping season.
When combined with the Nintendo 3DS family of systems and the plug-and-play Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Super NES Classic Edition system, Nintendo systems claimed two-thirds of the month’s total video game hardware sales.
Nintendo Switch games again occupied multiple spots in the list of best-selling individual games of the month, including Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle from Ubisoft at No. 7, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild at No. 10 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe at No. 11. Also, the Metroid: Samus Returns game for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems debuted at No. 8.
With a busy couple of months ahead, especially on Switch but also with Pokémon and more on 3DS, the big N is clearly aiming for a big Holiday season. If it can get plenty of stock into stores it could certainly be a lucrative period for the company.
Comments 74
That's crazy
Overall good news.
However the Holiday period will be the big test this year. I do believe Nintendo does have a fairly strong hand but for now, I am making no predictions. Only awaiting results.
It’s so refreshing to see a successful Nintendo. The early days of 3DS and the whole Wii U lifespan were rough, but things are looking reeeal good right now.
Excellent! No doubt October through December will be even better. There's zero chance Switch won't come out on top of everything else this year.
Share price gonna rocket... Quarterly results are announced on 30th October.
They just can't stop winning.
I like to see hard numbers and not just what place each game and system was in. I like Japan's chart far better. Also over 2 million units doesn't tell me much. Is it 2.05 million or closer to 3. I figured they would be over 3 by now. Makes what they sold worldwide less then I figured at this time.
That seems like a promising return for Metroid. And excellent Switch sales.
Awesome, love it, keep it up Nintendo. Good for them, good for us.
@Spoony_Tech The quarterly report should come out by the end of the month with hard numbers. Said that, they certainly sold more than last quarter (which was 2 millions, for a 4.7mi total), so it should have finished September with 7~8 million units.
Well, it's basically the three relevant Nintendo consoles against two relevant consoles from the other guys (Switch, 3DS and SNES Mini vs Xbox One and PS4*), so having two thirds of the total sales isn't actually that surprising imo. If Switch alone had done two thirds of the total sales of the three main home consoles then I'd be mighty impressed. Still, it's positive news regardless.
*There's obviously various models of Xbox One and PS4, as there are of 2DS/3DS too, but ultimately it's one core product line for each that just comes in various iterations, versions and skus (those being Xbox One, PS4 and 3DS). And the Vita is obviously not even really in the running at this point.
Wonder how well Splatoon 2 is doing; it’s the very definition of an evergreen title.
They finally have the hardware available in stores reliably in my area. At this point they will be relying on their software to sell their console, and that is looking pretty damn positive.
They finally have the hardware available in stores reliably in my area. At this point they will be relying on their software to sell their console, and that is looking pretty dang positive.
@LegendOfPokemon Same question here. It's an excellent title and the only game I've been playing since it launched. Haven't touched Zelda in quite a while
What a time to be alive
Nintendo is back from the darkness and back from the ashes and I'm happy they are rising to the top again after a harsh fall
Great results but a bit misleading. Nintendo has 3 different hardware items on sale compared to Sony and Microsofts 1. Also the fact that the Ps4 has been out for 4yrs almost. Still pretty obvious that the console has legs . It's got a good string Xmas line up. I'd imagine Mario almost doing 1 to 1 sales .
That's a pretty good lead in .... considering Odyssey and the Christmas season are what's next!
Go go switch!
Nintendo Switch is a PhoeniX now !
Soon, Nintendo will be a Kaiser PhoeniX.
That's great. Nintendo is rewarded for its hard work now my Nintendo will reward us with a nice wall paper and discounts for Wii u and 3ds games.
Hopefully there is plenty of stock coming over the next 3 months, so they can squeeze out all possible sales.
All these positive news are making me feel uneasy.
This is great news, and it represents Nintendo's largest overall market. Can you imagine how they'll clean up over the holidays?
And I'm glad to see that Metroid at least did well in America, even if Europe and Japan dropped the ball.
Isn't it amazing that whenever there are articles with such good news the various resident trolls, including ones from Ireland, gators, menchis, disappear? Nonetheless, it's good we get to bathe in their tears, saves money from the water bill and it's environmentally responsible
Lately, it seems like the Switch has consistently been in stock in the major retailers in my area (Nova Scotia). I wonder if supplies will remain strong through the holiday season, or if this is just the eye of the storm.
How's it been for everyone else?
@Yasaal same here. I keep going back to splatoon 2. They keep it fresh and enjoyable. I haven’t beaten campaign yet, but turf war on its own is enough of a reason to pick up and play every few days.
There was a point in time, I think 2015 to 2016, where the negativity and complaining was at an all time high. It was a drag just coming to the website.
It's so nice seeing Switch doing well, gamers are happy, Nintendo is happy... everyone's happy.
Somewhere in Capcom HQ someone needs to ask the question "why are we ignoring this machine"
NINTENDO? MORE LIKE NINTENDOOMED.
/s
@JaxonH Well, not everyone. Negative nancies are still all around us, sadly.
Still, after being critical of Nintendo's decisions during Wii U's final couple of years, it's great to be personally excited again. Switch is a beast.
2/3 of the sales with a fraction of the install base? Nice.
@kobashi100 Then the Capcom executive turns to his left as the Sony handler assigned to him brushes off the lint from the suit they bought him, and he remembers why.
Well, the launch of SMO is easily going to shift even more consoles.
Definitely looking good for Nintendo right now.
@Antray1984 it's not misleading when it does not state anywhere on this whole page that Nintendo Switch sold 2/3rds of all the hardware. It literally states it like twice that it was just Nintendo Systems 🤣
I'm happy for Nintendo Anyway. Had the Wii wasn't a fan. Didn't get the Wii U but the first time I saw the Switch concept I was like yass bish take my money!
@Antray1984 Actually, Sony has 3 (PS Vita, PS VR) and 4 if you include PS4 Pro separately, but I wouldn't since all 3DS's are lumped in to Nintendo's numbers.
It's just that it's so so easy to forget the seven or eight Vitas that sold....
By misleading I mean that the numbers are not as impressive. I dont in any way feel deceived. I am just saying that the numbers need to be taken in context.
Definitely hope the Switch production has indeed been ramped up, especially with the holidays approaching.
The more sales the better. Great to hear. More console sales mean hopefully more third party support, maybe even some switch exclusives. All positive and great time to be a Nintendo fan
I thougt the PS4 would win due to the Destiny 2 bundle, but with that game underperforming sales-wise, it makes sense that the Switch would beat it.
Congrats to Nintendo!
Praise everything oh oh oh!!! Metroid CHARTED!!!! WOJUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!
Great news!
Wow. PS4 and XB1 were driven by Destiny 2, Project Cars 2, Madden at the end of August, huge sales and bundles for FIFA and NBA and the odd exclusive like Cuphead and Forza 7. Yet Nintendo reduced their sales-even combined-to 1/3 of total hardware sales. It may get played down by some on the internet but it's a huge result for Nintendo and one that will ripple around the industry.
I hope the Switch continues selling well and becomes a massive success.
...then maybe Capcom will want our money and give us Western Monster Hunter XX.
This is very good news and surely outperforms expectations (and I'm not talking about the 'Switch will be dead on arrival' expectations)
huh? The Switch sold 906,000 units at launch back in March. 6 months later it still at 2 million?
@Si2k78 Ah. I finished the Campaign first and then Turf War till I unlocked Ranked Mode. And since unlocking it I've only played Ranked Mode ever since. It's a wonderful game. Glad that Nintendo is gonna actively support it for the next 2 years!
Switch sales reached 2 million units sold in the US in August. September should push that figure to 2.25 - 2.3 million, if not more.
More great news! I just wish that there were some actual numbers presented here.
@gortsi I wouldn't know, they've all been on my ignore list for so long I'd forget all about them if others didn't still reference them.
Looking forward to the up to date total numbers in Nintendo's financial report at the end of the month
Truly unreal! It’s a great time for Nintendo and it’s fans, so soak it in.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Xbox One X upends this, if at all.
Metroid Samus Returns was the 8th bestselling game!? begins to foam at the mouth from excitement
@cfgk24 : I'd love that, but here's my issue. Big N projected 10 mil in annual sales. The stock ticked up. Then a few analysts said annual sales could reach 18 mil. The stock jumped and hasn't looked back . . . except that the spring/summer supply issues mean there is no chance that 18 mil is reached. Big N recently confirmed it's on track for 10 mil, and yet the stock has not receded. Again, I hope it keeps flying but seems like good (or great news) may be received by the street in a way that seems illogical.
Imagine when they do a surprise drop of RHYTHM HEAVEN FOREVER coming soon, according to my source, which is my own fevered fantasies
@gcunit Well I don't do it that often, but you can still see others replying to them so you kind of get the idea of what they're spouting
@gortsi In their absence can I just remind you that Nintendo is still dead last and sales were supposed to fall off a cliff last May, the Switch is too expensive and it's still sitting on shelves in some general store/post office in Clogherevagh.
Doomed.
@WiltonRoots I spat out my drink. Thank you for that.
@WiltonRoots I just burst into laughter at work and my colleague is giving me some very weird looks because I said it'll take me too long to explain, hahaha. I was actually in Dublin last week where I found out that Sligo is a little town of about 20000 people, which makes total sense when someone extrapolates sales of consoles and games based on that specific example. Doomed indeed!
@WiltonRoots 😂👍
Excellent news overall.
On the software side, nice to see Metroid hit the top ten. Also great to see Mario+Rabbids do well too. The crossover title went from a "game no one asked for" to something that a lot of people enjoyed.
@gortsi I've seen bigger villages in Zelda.
With so many big titles coming in the next couple months, I suspect Nintendo will, at worst, still be doing well. Even if it doesn't stay on top, and I don't think it will just because of the massive PS4 install base, it will still remain seen as "selling well".
And hardware sales will probably stay high, because the PS4 isn't new but this will the first holiday season for Switch.
@Agramonte It had sold 1.95 million in the US as of the end of June. They're basically touting old, outdated numbers
While hardware numbers have yet to leak, here is some perspective:
The PS4 sold 285,000 units in September 2016. The PS4 Slim launched during that month, to relatively quiet reception.
So far, monthly PS4 sales in 2017 have been up YoY since March. If we assume that trend continued into September 2017 and PS4 sales were flat or narrowly up YoY thanks to the Destiny 2 PS4 Pro bundles, that means the Switch sold over 285,000 units last month.
One thing is for sure... they'll definitely hit 10 mill by next March.
@IceClimbers Do not understand why sites are regurgitating these numbers. They actually not good numbers.
I think it's funny that people still have a hard time finding a Switch, when the Target down the street from my house always has them in stock. And I live in a major city. Just patiently waiting until I can pick one up.
@Agramonte
Because Nintendo have, for some reason, used 'surpassed two million' when it's almost certainly closer to 3 by now. Internet sites are just quoting them.
@electrolite77 hmm, but wouldn't that make little sense. Why would they undercut their number by 1million. If they near 3million the "over 2.5 million" statement makes more sense.
The nintendo quarterly report is next week. So I guess everyone will know at that point.
@Agramonte
Because they wanted to use the last actual million they passed I suppose. Next excited bluster from them will be when they pass 3 mill.
To have passed 2.5 million they would have to have sold 551,000 systems in June/July/August which given Switch was the best-selling system in each month, which they will have.
@gcunit Wow it comes to something when even the mods have them on ignore...lol.
Great game design will never go out of fashion!
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