Nintendo has seen great sales for some of its top Switch exclusive games in 2018.
These titles can’t be played on any other system and have helped keep up the sales momentum behind the hybrid console.
The Nintendo Switch has been backed to surpass both the Xbox One and PS4 in 2019 in terms of total sales.
Predictions have been made that suggest the Switch will outsell the PS4 by a slim margin.
And if this does indeed come to pass, Nintendo could see the Switch reach a total of 40 consoles sold by the end of 2019.
That would be excellent news for Nintendo, who have set themselves some aggressive targets when it comes to sales.
The Switch is seen as a big success for the company, beating early expectations that it may fail to make an impact.
Other good news includes data from the UK that confirms the Switch saw a massive 20 per cent year-on-year sales growth.
That’s tied to the news that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – a Switch exclusive – was the fourth highest selling game physically in the UK.
That’s behind Red Dead Redemption 2, FIFA 19 and Call of Duty Black Ops 4.
Some news from this week will also need to be analysed by those worried that the Switch might peak too early.
The Nintendo console will certainly not befall the same fate as the Wii U, however, it appears to be lagging behind the Wii.
The Wii managed to sell over 100 million units worldwide during its lifecycle, becoming a device used by gamers and casuals alike.
However, the latest news from VGChartz suggests that the Switch is lagging behind the Wii in current sales.
Comparing the sales growth of both consoles, the Switch has fallen behind the Wii by over 3 million units.
The report from VGchartz reveals: “November 2018 is the 21st month that the Nintendo Switch has been available for.
“During the latest month, the Switch has closed the gap by 1.92 million units. However, in the last 12 months, the Wii has outsold the Switch by 3.92 million units. The Wii is currently ahead of the Switch by 5.34 million units.
“The Wii launched in November 2006, while the Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017.
“The Switch has sold 24.92 million units, while the Wii sold 30.26 million units during the same timeframe.”
The new Nintendo console will need to sell a lot more to catch up, and the games giant may have a plan in place for such a thing.
New reports have surfaced that Nintendo plans to release a new Switch variant in 2019.
Rumours of a new Nintendo Switch Pro console started back in 2018 and claimed that a new model would hit shelves in the second half of 2019.
No solid facts were given about what would be different, only that Nintendo would look to improve the battery life and screen.
And now analysts have also backed the idea of a Switch Pro hitting shelves in the coming months.
Game industry consultant Dr. Serkan Toto of Kantan Games believes Nintendo will have two Switch consoles to offer later this year, telling Games Industry.biz:
“While the 2019 Switch Pro has been already reported to be in development by the Wall Street Journal, I also think Nintendo will offer a “Switch Lite” (or just keep the current version at a lower price) to cover the lower end of the spectrum and offset sinking 3DS sales.
“In tandem with hardware revisions and an increasing install base, I am expecting a lot more games from third-party developers in 2019, starting in spring.
“At least one new game from the mega-franchises owned by EA, Activision or Take-Two will launch on Switch.”
It sounds like an interesting year for fans waiting to hear about the new games and hardware hitting the market in 2019.