Nintendo is reportedly enjoying a strong start to the year in the UK with Switch hardware sales being significantly up year-on-year.
According to a new report from VGC, Nintendo Switch sales have more than doubled in the first half of 2020 compared to that very same period last year. VGC says that this surge in sales peaked in May following increased demand due to the coronavirus lockdown and the arrival of new hardware stock - which has been rather elusive in the region for some time.
For comparison's sake, the report also notes that PlayStation 4 and Xbox One hardware sales have risen year-on-year, too, by around 50% and 25% respectively.
The Switch was performing well before the pandemic's full impact was felt, too, being the best-selling console in the UK in February, and the huge success of Animal Crossing: New Horizons' launch would only have helped more hardware to fly off shelves. The lockdown has actually caused an industry-wide sales spike across the region, with this April being the most successful for physical games sales in five years.
Have you bought a Nintendo Switch this year, perhaps for the first time or as a second console for your family? Let us know with a comment below.
[source videogameschronicle.com]
Comments 27
All good news. Everything seems to be coming up hunky-dory, although perhaps not for as good a reason as we would hope.
Why do you keep putting the Mario 3D World logo on your article photos?
@BabyYoshi12 I know right?
It’s great!
The UK market it’s very important for the Big N.
Any idea what the current total lifetime switch sales are?
@KoopaTheQuick Wait, does NL know?
"The lockdown has actually caused an industry-wide sales spike across the region"
As a furloughed father, I do not judge those that have been sitting their kids in front of a computer or Netflix in the last few months.
I've actually been considering buying a second Switch lately, as I've been having to share with my partner a lot more than usual in recent months. I've been pretty close to caving in and getting the Lite prior to that, so that I can play games on the couch when the TV is already taken by the main Switch. We didn't really think that competition for the Switch happened often enough to warrant a second device, but that's starting to change.
A couple of colleagues of mine have gone out and bought Switches in the past couple of months for their kids to help keep them entertained during lockdown, too.
France is a major help. They love Nintendo.
@Lord
The Switch reached 1.5 million units sold in the UK by the end of 2018.
2019 was a strong year for Switch, and the first half of 2020 was even stronger as this report indicates, so I think it's safe to assume that it is approaching 3 million units sold by now.
Too bad Satoru Iwata didn't live to see Switch huge success. He died after he reduced his own bonus and salary taking responsibility of the company's declining profits
Year-to-date Switch sales are also up ~100% YoY in the US and Japan.
Two bought this year, Switch for my son and Switch Lite for me. Still wrestling with sharing digital games but other than that, loving it!
Stock is still hard to come by in the UK so those sales figures are impressive. It's never actually been regularly available this year, just waves of stock that arrive and then go within days. The likes of CEX are still marking up used consoles (£340 right now) due to demand.
Hmmm, I WONDER WHY.
I still think it was reeeeeally messed up that Animal Crossing New Horizons makes you share a save state. I know one couple that bought a second Switch this year so both of them could have separate islands, but I hate thinking about all the families that had to share islands, or otherwise cough up a devastating $500 for a new Switch on the resell market (multiplied by the number of kids you have, and considering you haven't been laid-off AND have enough expendable savings). I can't imagine being a kid these days and having to share an island with my siblings...it's bad enough sharing a console! All of this over not having a separate save file. For shame!
Hey report on Gris getting a reprint from special reserve game please
They doing alright
But...but... Switch is doomed, no games, next gen is coming, underpowered etc. 🙃
@BabyYoshi12 Wishful thinking, I'd bet. We're halfway through the year and all we've got from that big rumor is Paper Mario. That's not nothing, of course, but a far cry from what the rumor stated!
@dimi,
Yes it is a shame, even more so when you consider how the Wii U was such a stepping stone to the new system, and how similar in concept both consoles are.
Considering a second switch. Animal crossing had put a lot of strain on the whole family playing.
A gaming console you can play a wide variety of first party exclusives, indie hits and a growing number of third party games anytime, anywhere. It makes the whole concept of a big console tethered to the TV seem quite obsolete.
I was lucky to get a new model switch in January direct from the Nintendo UK online shop but I had to wait a month for the shipment after registering interest!
Lucky I got in then as who knows how long I’d have waited with all the chaos that followed...
As an extra bonus I got 10% off too with the ninty magazine discount, sweet!
With PS4 sales up 50% too, it must make selling the PS5 pretty hard. Nintendo is in a good place as far as console lifecycle goes.
Not really surprising. With so many people needing to stay home instead of going out, of course they're gonna be more likely to buy video games. I'd have been shocked it the news were different.
@Inaroomalone Especially in a tough economy like we have right now where many folks don't have $500 lying around.
@keihtg or you consider it a good.leason for them to accept what's available or to get nothing instead!
Beside that, the Switch is way more than just animal crossing
@mazzel Switch owners get that lesson every time there’s an AAA multi-platform game! Take what’s available, or get nothing (hint: they’re the same thing).
But yea, Switch definitely has some killer exclusives!
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...