Nintendo Switch sales drop as new console rumors ramp up
NintendoThe thieves were able to steal $10K worth of Nintendo Switch consoles.
The Nintendo Switch has established itself as one of the most popular video game consoles of all time, but, following rumors of a new version, its sales are starting to dip.
Since its release back in 2017, the Nintendo Switch has gone on to be the legendary company’s best-selling home console, shipping over 111 million units worldwide.
The Switch is home to a number of incredible exclusives, and with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 and Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope on the horizon, there are still plenty of reasons to own one.
However, following reports that a brand-new Nintendo Switch console could drop in the coming months, sales for both hardware and software are in decline.
Nintendo Switch sales down year-on-year
In Q1 of 2022, 3.43 million Nintendo Switch consoles were sold, compared to 4.45 million during the same timeframe in 2021, marking a 22.9% drop.
The story was similar when it comes to games too, as software sales were down 8.6% at 41.41 million copies. This is despite the release of two major exclusives during Q1; Nintendo Switch Sports in April and Mario Strikers: Battle League in June, which sold 4.84 million and 1.91 million units respectively.
In fact, a large portion of software sales came from games released in past fiscal years. Kirby and the Forgotten Land sold a further 1.88 million copies, while 2017’s Mario Kart 8 Deluxe shipped another 1.48 million.
There’s no denying that the Switch has been a huge success for Nintendo, which only sits behind the DS and Game Boy in terms of the company’s all-time console sales. However, it does appear that the current Switch may have had its time in the sun.
It’s no surprise then, that rumors have been swirling that a new model could arrive in 2022, with next-gen devs kits reportedly being sent out already.
Of course, this is just speculation until Nintendo officially confirms that a new Switch is on the way. But with five years having passed since its original release, you get the feeling that a new version will arrive sooner rather than later.
