For the past five years, Sony has ruled the roost in the UK hardware sales charts. The PS4 is the territory's undisputed champion with millions of consoles safely installed in millions of living rooms. However, it would seem that Nintendo's recent robust performance is going to change things up a little.
Retail data obtained by GamesIndustry.biz indicates that Switch hardware sales have risen more than 30% over the past week thanks to the arrival of Pokémon Sword and Shield – which has just jumped to number one in the UK charts and has enjoyed the biggest system-exclusive launch of the year.
Hardware sales had spiked more than 75% the week prior to Sword and Shield's release, and almost 90,000 Switch systems have been sold in the UK in November so far. While you might assume that the recently-released Switch Lite model is the reason for the jump, it is actually the original variant which is accounting for most of those sales.
All of this has contributed to Switch becoming the best-selling console in the UK this year so far, ahead of Sony's PlayStation 4. Retailers have told GamesIndustry.biz that a host of promotions are helping Switch fly off the shelves and that more offers will become available over the Black Friday period.
[source gamesindustry.biz]
Comments 43
Nice! The Switch reign continues and I'm sure it will at least until the PS5 drops. My guess is Nintendo is gearing up the fabled "Switch Pro" model for next year. Probably in late Summer or Fall to try and steal some thunder from Sony and Microsoft.
Would be crazy really for anyone to buy a PS4 or Xbox one this Christmas considering they are gonna be replaced next year. No wonder the switch is selling well
@Mr_Pepperami
Unless they are cheap.
The twilight years of a console are usually the best years. Because the kinks are worked out and the hardware and software are cheap.
Really it all comes down to Black Friday sales and December. Switch should be top at the end given PS4 and XB1 are being replaced around this time next year but we'll wait and see.
@KitsuneNight yeah but think about how cheap they are gonna be in a year when everyone is trying to get a ps5. Bet you’ll be able to pick one up for a song. Be worth waiting for that.
Idk, Black Friday could swing things Sony’s way with some exceedingly cheap models going.
Surely by now, anyone who wants a PS4 already has one?
@Mr_Pepperami there are plenty of reasons to buy those consoles though. Thing is the new ones console wont be out for a full year, and there are several pretty big titles for the XBox and PS4. Cyberpunk, FFVIIR, and Last of Us. Then there is a gap year where you get stuff for both. Plus Gamepass gets a lot of new titles cycling through.
@YagaMaki
Not everybody who wants one can afford one.
Or they are waiting for major pricedrops.
I'm waiting for the Xbox one to get as major pricedrop.
@Mr_Pepperami
Oh, i know im waiting for that so I can pick a ps4 and Xbox one up for cheap.
Im bowing out of the next gen.
@YozenFroghurt
100M isn't a huge number though ?
Sony had 4 consoles and only 1 of them didn't break 100M.
Yes, the PS4 is in its twilight year, but this wouldn't be possible without Nintendo's stream of high selling software(NSMBUD, Yoshi, Mario Maker2, Three Houses, Astral Chain, Zelda, Luigis Mansion, Pokemon etc.) Correct me if I wrong, all hit #1 in their debut week in the UK. So yeah, let's give Nintendo the credit here.
You can see certain people are raging when they read this.
@YozenFroghurt
Nintendo doesnt compete with other hardware manufacturers.
This was just an observation regarding the current state of the UK gaming market.
@YozenFroghurt
“ Plus I thought Nintendo didn't compete with the other console manufacturers.”
Nintendo aren’t comparing themselves to other Console manufacturers
People will try and play this down but it’s an outstanding return considering their last system was a disaster and PS4, while starting to drop off, continues to sell very well.
Seems amazing now to think we had people predicting Switch would flop, then would stop selling at 20 million, then 30 million etc.
@KitsuneNight how come you bowing out of the next Gen?
@electrolite77 some people said it was dead on arrival. Where are they now?
@Mr_Pepperami
Various reasons.
The current generation left me cold with all the rehashes, rereleases, sequels, DLC, micro transactions and all that nonsense.
And I fear that it wont get any better in the next generation.
The current generation wasn't a huge leap forward either, just a minor increment.
I currently threw my lot in with Nintendo and I have no regrets so there is that.
But the biggest reason is my back log.
I have 960 games on steam alone.
133 on the NX.
I just need to stop and actually play instead of hoard.
@KitsuneNight interesting. I’ve been feeling similar things and will see how it goes. If we go to all digital subscription nonsense I can def see myself bowing out, especially if the micro transaction etc increase as well.
It's a fun metric, but in this case, PS4 and X1 are awkward lame ducks. I'm not sure why both companies basically announced the end of current gen almost 2 years before a replacement was available...but for some reasons they did, and their sales show it. Sony not even showing up to E3 at all pretty much boldly proclaimed "we just don't care about PS4. At all."
@Mr_Pepperami
Yeah that, and streaming and urgh.
I don't like the direction the industry is going in.
But my major reason is, I have so many games, well over 1500 I'd like to play them.
I do want a ps4 again, because I have 64 ps4 games on psn and may want to play them again at some point.
And I want an Xbox One, because I really want Rare Replay and Forza Motorsport 4.
But I can't justify 200 bucks for 2 games.
@KitsuneNight Ha, you must be doing what I do. Ooooo i have to have that. click Buy. Oooo it's on sale. click Buy. I won't say what I spend on games buy a couple months ago I went to a local game store and bought a ton of ps3, sega genesis and snes games. The funny thing is they're still in the bags. Heh. I just have too many games to play.
The fact that Wii Fit is still the second biggest Nintendo launch in the UK (sandwiched between gen 7 & 8) is... something.
@KitsuneNight God of War 4 and Gears 5 say hello.
@Xylnox
Pretty much yeah.
Ooh that looks good. Oh hey, that's cheap, oh wow a sale !
Hey that's cheap.
And Steam always has sales going on.
And before you know it, you are up to your eyebrows in games.
And I buy games with intend, to play not just hoard.
@liveswired
Nah I don't want those.
Yeah, I hate to sound like one of those insufferable Sony people (they know who they are), but a two year-old console is going to sell better than a console that’s been available for five years, barring weird exceptions. Particularly when the new console has just had a massive E ticket game released. The real test will be total lifetime sales. That’s the only comparison that’s meaningful.
Now it just has to do it for 6 years in a row
yeah with the PS5 on the horizon so surprise PS4 sales are going to tank and Switch not even 3 years old will take the lead FOR NOW
Never has the first year for a console's been it's most successful, and so it will be with PS5 and the New XBOX. Nintendo can rule the next 1 or 2 years, if they deliver the right software... and I think they will.
@KitsuneNight I like to have the physical catridges etc. of the games I used to have. I don't know why but it's satisfying having something I can see. I buy some console digital games but not many. For PC, I have my library of games on Steam and GoG. I actually still have most of my PC games that go all the way back to 5.25 and 3.5 floppy discs. I think I still have a good amount of manuals too.
@electrolite77 How many years do you think Nintendo can hold this reign? Just wait until the PS5 lunches. The Nintendo Switch is quickly falling behind in graphical power. I don’t think it has what it needs to be a real threat. I am a Nintendo fan, but I think this holiday season is going to be the Apex for the Nintendo Switch. It’s all downhill when the next two systems launch. Just my opinion.
@NEStalgia I couldn’t agree with you more.
@Bengals76
Power has never been the selling point for Nintendo handhelds. It’s got plenty left in it. I’m not fussed whether it outsells PS4 or not, but I do think it could clear 100 million now on a typical Console lifespan.
@kobashi100
“ You can see certain people are raging when they read this.”
Ain’t that the truth
@Bengals76 you do realise that there is a market for dedicated handheld consoles right.
Nintendo back where they belong at the top, next gen wont make a difference to me. Nintendo make amazing games which ooze charm. Games like BOTW, Mario, Luigi's mansion, timeless classics right there. Don't get me wrong ps5 will be incredible but Nintendo do there own thing they mostly always have.
Go, go, go big N <3
@Bengals76 I think it depends on the software. And it will be easy for Nintendo to ensure there are a few big hitters each year since there is only one system to support.
@mousieone I think i'll end up being in this camp - i did that for the PS3. See, i don't have a lot of time on my hands to play (which is why i love the switch so much - great for squeezing in a half hour) so it's hard to justify a new console purchase or a $60 game. At the end of a cycle I can get a console for a very low price, and then get all the must-have titles for it either from family and friends or from the pre-owned bin at retailers for next to nothing. Amazing value.
Whereas I never doubted Pokémon's popularity (it's going to take much more than a few folk's fave Pokémon missing to make the game unappealing to new kids) I am pleasantly surprised it drove the original Switch sales. I mean, awesome signals to send to Nintendo about how much the hybrid concept is grabbing people's imagination. So...about that Switch 2.0 with analogue triggers and octagonal moulding around the analogue sticks (Nooo, I'm not chasing Gamecube games at all )
The problem most don't see is developers are now going Switch as this gets more buyers. It can Dock and Go without issue something ps5/xboxxx can't do and that will not increase more buyers. Also Nintendo doesn't need to compete with either one to stand their own ground. But the naysayers just can't stand that it can still sell even thought they claim it has no graphics power. But that isn't why it's has a proven track record of innovations that marches on.
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