It's probably to be expected as PlayStation and Xbox fans start to turn their attention towards next-generation hardware coming later this year, but the Nintendo Switch is still sitting pretty as the best-selling games console of 2020 in the US.
The news comes from American market research company NPD Group; company analyst Mat Piscatella has shared the following update.
"Nintendo Switch was the best-selling hardware platform of February in both unit and dollar sales. And [it] remains the best-selling hardware platform of the year."
It's not the best of times for the gaming industry as a whole, though, with hardware spending being significantly less this February compared to the same period last year. "Hardware spending in February 2020 fell 34% when compared to a year ago, to $183 million," Piscatella says. “All in-market console platforms declined when compared to a year ago. Annual spending has dropped 35 percent, to $312 million."
The Switch has been having a harder time in Japan lately, with the coronavirus outbreak impacting the original model's distribution. Our regular Japanese chart updates show that the original model only shifted 4,424 units last week, despite sitting at around the 80,000-per-week mark before any impact was felt. Interestingly, this has resulted in a rise in sales for the Switch Lite as fans grab whichever system is available to them.
[source venturebeat.com, via mynintendonews.com]
Comments (70)
This pandemic is the biggest event to affect the world since games consoles were invented.
It will be interesting to see how the industry holds up. We know there will be shortages and if global markets crumble it could change things.
But in the short term, I think a lot of people will be gaming whilst the quarantines take place.
Boom keep rocking the switch Nintendo
@Kienda this thing has been around since December! And the IS has had no shortages of anything! I really wonder if it will actually have an impact at all! I think this virus is overhyped! Diarrhea has killed more people this season! Yes it's a problem but things need to stop being closed and quarantined!
@PickledKong64 Dude, you gotta be careful with diarrhea, things can get real crappy real quick.
@PickledKong64
Without the necessary precaution (i.e. closures and quarantines), viruses and diseases tend to get worse over time, not better.
Switch sales haven't been hit in the West as much as it has been in Japan (Switch unit sales were actually up YoY in Europe + Asia in January + February), but the effects will be felt soon enough if things don't improve.
Japan did the right thing, they handled the virus like pros even though it cost them a lot of money. Meanwhile, greedy America had 4 months to prepare and failed horribly. Now America will lose big money and many lives in the coming future. Blood is on America's hands, people should be thrown in prison.
Even excluding Covid-19, January + February 2020 have been among the most boring months in recent momory. You knows things are really slow when DBZ Kakarot is by far the biggest release of the year thus far.
March will bring some actual excitement with Animal Crossing New Horizons, Doom Eternal, and Resident Evil 3 Remake. I expect Switch unit sales to actually increase YoY barring suddent supply shortages. The Animal Crossing bundle alone should be enough to do the trick.
@mesome713 It hasn't even been 4 months. Just stop spreading misinformation and using such inflammatory remarks.
that's why we won't have switch pro or sth like that in 2020 (and maybe in 2021)
@mesome713 The virus has only been going for 3 months.... how can it be 4 months?
And why blame America? Why not blame China then, for not containing the outbreak and preventing it from spreading to the rest of the world in the first place?
Your argument holds no H2O.
@westman98 the flu has had more cases and deaths this season alone! And we dont quarantine stuff for that
@PickledKong64 True, influenza does kill lots of people each year,. However, based on the epidemiological data available thus far, Covid cases would completely inundate our healthcare infrastructure, in the absence of preventive measures (closings, social distancing, etc). The relatively low # of confirmed cases here in US is just a reflection of the lack of testing thus far.
@PickledKong64 The common flu has a much smaller death rate. Death rate of Corona is like 5%, which is insanely high. And that's just from what we know, the number is actually much higher cause many who have died from flu could be Corona but we didn't test.
@mesome713 you must be shaking In your boots fam. It's still really overhyped man.
@mesome713 also why r u crapping on america man. If you hate it leave
@mesome713 lol blood is in Americas hands lol your actually hilarious! 🤣
@PickledKong64 Lol, you so funny. I would leave America if they paid more and had better benefits so I could afford to move and retire in Japan.
@mesome713 nothing stopping ya. Except the travel ban which btw, the US did to prevent spread. Ungrateful crap
@AnnoyingFrenzy I see what ya did there
@PickledKong64 Yeah, love the travel ban, wish was 3 months earlier and not so soft of a travel ban. Weakest travel ban I've ever seen, it won't stop the virus one bit. It's a stupid travel ban. Should have done like Japan did from day one.
Nintendo would have had most of this year to sell more Switch consoles, and create a buffer to ensure the launch of the PS5 and Xbox Series X don't cut too deeply into Switch sales.
Right now Nintendo pretty much has the console market to themselves. The PS4 and Xbox One are not going to do much, and most major projects are on next gen hardware.
But due to factors outside of their control, Nintendo can't take advantage of this chance due to a shortage of units and other bad factors.
What a horrible bit of timing for Nintendo when you think about it...
I bet digital sales figures are gonna be up for a while...
Mental how many infectious disease experts there is on a Nintendo website.
Current state of mind (not that anyone asked):
I love my Switch, however after having finished Luigi's Mansion 3, I realized I'm not really excited about anything Switch related. I have nothing against Animal Crossing, however it's not a series I play.
My enthusiasm for Switch could easily be reignited with any additional information on Metroid Prime 4, Breath of the Wild 2, or any game announcements involving Mario in 3D.
I'm excited to hear more about Sony and Microsoft's upcoming consoles (I've cleared much of my backlogs on PS4 and Xbox One) and am hoping Nintendo gives me reason to be excited for Switch again soon. I'm currently finishing up Outer Worlds on Xbox and Jedi Fallen Order on PS4. I'm looking forward to Resident Evil 3 Remake and Cyberpunk 2077. Pretty great time to be a gamer, however I'd love Nintendo to bring it with some announcements.
@mesome713 Yeah that's a crock....he was criticized as it being to harsh when he did it then....WELL before everyone knew what would happen and the new one is right too. I'm sorry man, but you're just wrong here. He did the right thing and balanced the impacts on the economy the best he could. Put the blame where it belongs, on the Chinese gov't(not the Chinese people) trying to hide it from the world. Everyone I know is happy about our response.
@purpleibby Japanese government handled it excenlty. Look at their stats. And they are right by China. This is embrassing for America the richest country in the world.
@PickledKong64
If there was a known vaccine for Covid-19 like there was for the flu, then we wouldnt be having this conversation.
@Caryslan not necessarily. If closures - particularly in China carry on for too long then it’ll seriously hit PS5 and XBox manufacturing. Certainly it seems likely to constrain units available at launch. It could even stall the launch entirely.
In such a scenario Nintendo has the ‘incumbency’. They have consoles in the hands of players and they have a game development pipeline aimed at delivering games to that platform this year and next.
Added to which the economic impact of millions of people being off work (particularly those with school age children) is probably not going to be good for launching a premium luxury games console but might be wonderful for a cheaper console (which most people who really want already have anyway).
In short - we don’t know how this will all shake out (both in a gaming context and more generally).
This is nothing new. The US gaming industry has been in the toilet for months. We need the new PS5 / X and big exciting AAA games.
A massive chunk of the gaming population is sitting on the sidelines right now.
Nobody bought the parade of rehash on Switch. Top 10 are again, 9 Nintendo games and Just Dance 🤦♂️
@mesome713
Actually if you go to the Nippon website the stats tell a very positive story for our response. At march 12 we had twice as many cases as Japan(619 vs 1,220) with a US population significantly more than double theirs and we are MUCH more of an international hub than they are.. If you want to go by the Japan stats(and the cdc website)...we're doing great by comparison globally. I think you're playing politics man....Our response was awesome, early and we were criticized for the China travel ban(saying it was too harsh), just like we were criticized for the travel ban to Europe(racist was it?). Your blame is misplaced. Funny how you give the Chinese Gov't hiding it a pass(where responsibility for this outbreak belongs, not the Chinese people but the gov't). We're DEFINITELY in the lower tier compared to the rest of the world and we have a MUCH bigger population. If you go by percent of population, we're doing even better than Japan.
https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h00673/coronavirus-cases-by-country.html?cx_recs_click=true
@PickledKong64 it isn’t about numbers killed. More people die in car crashes so far. It is about the disruption of normal life. That is what will cause the economic problems. Just look at the stock markets, the disruption to businesses, production, travel, etc.
If this continues long term we will have more troubles to worry about.
@Kienda Yup, people need to be responsible healthwise, but also do not freak out. Do business(whatever country you live in) as much as you can while being responsible. Freaking people out intentionally for political or financial gain should be anathematized(I think of them as looters during a crisis).....people will get hurt by such foolishness(prior infections were worse without the panic we are seeing now, which seems by design IMO) I'm going to buy a game today to support Nintendo and the developers. We went out and ate at a restaurant yesterday, practiced good hygiene and spent some money in that store(and tipped the server well). The place was still busy.
@mesome713 stop panicking. The truth is that this virus is marginally deadlier than the flu.
@purpleibby hear, hear!
@JSDude1 Right back at ya man! Positive vibes! On a good note...with the President's coronovirus press conference today and measures taken the stock market jumped over 2000 points TODAY!
@JSDude1
20x the mortality rate of the flu is not "marginally deadlier."
@westman98 The swine flu killed 14,000 in the US and hundreds of thousands globally. H1N1 Killed over 12,000 people in the US.
@purpleibby
And that was also a global pandemic.
@westman98 @westman98 Yes, it(nor H1N1) did NOT creat a panic we are seeing in some today and the stats were worse for them. The message is be responsible healthwise, but do not lose your cool.
@purpleibby I didn't give it a pass, just like I didn't give Trump and others ting to downplay it so much. Trump should have been canceling events and stuff way sooner. Even when the virus was here he continued to downplay it. People and companies had to take action themselves cause government wasn't doing anything.
@westman98 Dude it’s still like only a 1% mortality rate (granted this is still worse than the Flu, and is still bad), but it’s not panick worthy.
@JSDude1 from what I’ve read flu mortality is close to 1 in 1000 and remember that includes seasonal vaccines. COVID-19 is approximately 1 in 100 but that’s only in people tested positive for the disease and it’s known that many more people are likely to be infected but only show very mild symptoms. So the actually mortality is going to be far less than 1 in 100. The main reason this virus is being taken much more seriously than previous viruses is because the speed, ease and undetected nature of transmission are likely to overwhelm medical services throughout the world which could cause complete chaotic dystopia. Closing everything down could indirectly kill and ruin more lives than the virus itself. But whatever... Wash your hands people
@mesome713 hey, I’m working in Japan now. Can confirm that the Japanese government has done a terrible job with this situation. Leaving people on a cruise ship and letting infections rise, preventing people from being tested unless they have been to China and they didn’t bar entry to Chinese nationals until after the US did.
It’s understandable to be frustrated, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay to spread false information.
@Vectorreeves thx man. My friend is a foreign exchange student from Japan and he keeps in contact with his friends and said that they're doing a terrible job there.
@Vectorreeves Still 100 times better than we have done in America. The stats show it. Wish I was in Japan.
@mesome713 No it isn’t better. It’s either just as bad or worse. Japan had the highest infection rate outside China for over a month. Ask any person in Japan what they think and they’ll mention how incompetent the Abe government is right now.
If you wanna praise another country, look elsewhere. Like Vietnam or Taiwan. But Japan doesn’t deserve any recognition right now.
@mesome713 No one is downplaying it, you're just pulling stuff out of your rear end. I'LL say that it is being over hyped while simultaneously not discounting the seriousness of being responsible. We've had viruses like this before that have killed way more people and the intentional spread of hysteria is not what it is now for those cases....nor the outrage. That is dangerous and irresponsible. What the intentional driving of the hysteria is about, is this is an election year. Period.
@mesome713 You're wrong...the stats don't show it....you just got OWNED with the stats.
@JSDude1
Mortality rate is 3%.
I'm not trying to argue that there isn't too much panic, because their is (What is hording that much toilet paper supposed to do?), but saying that "it'z just a fluuuu!!" Is naive at best, disingenuous at worst.
@westman98 With the elderly. Most of the deaths in the US were in a nursing home.
@AnnoyingFrenzy
The reason Diarrhea is killing some people because they are so full of sh8t.
@westman98 you’re correct officially it is 3%, but in some nations individually it is 1%. Thanks for correcting me, sincerely.
@purpleibby Good luck with thst.
Get them while supplies last!
Pandamic or not it's the Portable nature of the Switch that lends itself to play wherever/whenever. That is why what alot of people now are starting to find out. And this just leads to supply shortage.
@nintendork64 And why blame America? Why not blame China then, for not containing the outbreak and preventing it from spreading to the rest of the world in the first place?
This is the exact reason one shouldn't be born in the first place. Take a good look at someone at the WH that blames China but now we find out America has it's own HOMEGROWN pandemic and someone is till blaming China. Your own water is coming out of places you shouldn't be careful for.
@PickledKong64 also why r u crapping on america man. If you hate it leave
This is the reason I tell those whom use these worthless words you should also leave as well since you contribute nothing to American. Or did you forget to read the Constitution. Let me start:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
The Bill of Rights 1971 Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Don't get that then you need to get out.
@mesome713 super weeb spotted.
@SwitchForce my dude that's crazy. I dont remember asking. I love how some Americans are so self loathing haha
@JSDude1 True, COVID 19 is only slightly deadlier than the flu, but the reason for the panic is to prevent another flu-like virus from becoming common place. Imagine if every flu season we had to worry about the flu AND COVID 19. That would mean you would be twice as likely every year to contract a debilitating illness and also drastically raise your chances of dying, especially if you are above the age of 60. No one wants that and that is the reason for this aggressive push to contain the disease from spreading.
@PickledKong64 Read back what you said #15. And see why you get such response.
Funny how people are using the Best Selling console to purvey their Doom and Gloom factor. How about those with Doom and Gloom make thread at a Medical forum to talk about the CV19. The coincidence of the CV19 is just that coincidence. Why not talk that it is the Best Selling because they are Innovative and Creative to make something everyone wants and not can't get because of CV19. This hype that the CV19 is the sole reason it's selling is misguided at best. They produced something people wanted and liked to much that supply is outstripped and the CV19 just insure it will be short handed. So let's really see for what it is BEST SELLING and Innovative that is why it is doing so well. But we always find NintenDoomed trying to down play the reasons for it's success and with E3 gone well just look at how good they came out sooner with v2.
@Chowdaire keep your head, don’t panick and don’t go along with the mass hysteria. I don’t think this think is even X30 as deadly as the media would have everyone believe.
@mesome713 simply not true.
@JSDude1 I live in Washington state so maybe I have a different perspective since our state has been impacted the most. Mortality rate here is actually higher than other places that are being impacted. I believe we've had about 650 cases with 40 deaths. Ultimately, it doesn't matter though, like I said in my original comment, this is a new disease and the world is just trying to prevent it from becoming common place. If we don't then every flu season we have two disease that we have to contend with on an annual basis. What happens if 5-10 years from now ANOTHER flu like virus materializes and once again we don't do something about it? Whelp, now you have THREE friggin' diseases and every time we allow that to happen it will just cause more and more problems.
@JSDude1 you love to hype the WH CV10 hoax don't you. Sounds like you failed to listen to the CDC and Scientists warning like others whom heads stuck in the the WH sands. Did China problem not tell you anything? Someone at WH keeps blaming Obama but yet has to take responsiblity for their Screwups and disbanding the Pandemic Department that would've help. So tell me again whom FAILED Big time and the Election will show that down ballot as well.
To all those whom have "0" medical degree to talk about how bad or how little it affects should read from experts before making opinionated claims.
CDC what it is:
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6908e1.htm
CV19 vs Flu vs Cold
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/14/health/coronavirus-covid-19-flu-comparison-frieden-analysis/index.html
@SwitchForce who mentioned the WH? Bu you sure seem like a lib-tard. All I said was for people not to lose their minds. Be careful, be safe, but don’t contribute to the panick.
@SwitchForce It originated in China. China kept it under wraps for weeks and didn't isolate and contain it before it spread elsewhere. Therefore blaming China is completely warranted.
You just seem to want to blame Trump for everything. It sounds something like "I'm upset with my life. But rather than change it for the better, I'll just blame Trump because blaming myself for my own problems hurts too much."
It's not very becoming.
@nintendork64 Hello, There is also USA originated cases as well so your own blame/game has holes in it. Since Trump removed the Pandemic department and waited months to get ahead of the problem whom else should take the blame? They also created there own pathetic Failed test rather then listen to CDC/Virus experts-so tell me who is not being Responsible now? This is why no one around the world is the USA friend anymore other then Putin and I can say let's go to Siberia Comrade we have a plot of land for you to stay at. There is Blame and someone refuses to admit they screwed up. That's how you get into more trouble then staying ahead of the problem. When your President you take Blame and Credit you don't get to pick and choose. If you can't take the heat then don't take the job-that's American.
@SwitchForce He didn't remove the pandemic department. The department that was cut had NOTHING to do with pandemics. The cuts only applied to CHRONIC DISEASES (Source: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-cut-cdc-budget/)
The cuts also haven't even gone into effect yet because the budget proposal is still pending. Seriously, not sure what conspiracy website you're getting your information from, but take a little time to do some research.
Also, he closed the border, as mentioned, way back in JANUARY, which is BEFORE the Coronavirus is known to have come to our shores, and you lot called him racist for doing so.
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