Nintendo Switch sales figures are on pace with PlayStation 4

By Gabe Gurwin Published December 12, 2017

The Nintendo Switch has been selling like hotcakes this year, and the hybrid console’s momentum didn’t slow down as we headed into the holiday season. To date, the console has managed to sell 10 million units, significantly outpacing the Wii U and managing to keep pace with Sony’s PlayStation 4.

“As you can see in people’s living rooms, on a plane, or riding the subway, fans all over the world can enjoy playing Nintendo Switch wherever they go,” Nintendo of America’s president, and walking meme, Reggie Fils-Aime said in the announcement. “The response from fans has been great, and we’re doing our very best to satisfy demand during the holiday season.”

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These sales figures put the Switch on pace with the PlayStation 4, which managed to sell 10 million systems in its first 10 months on sale. The PlayStation 4, however, released at a time when people were eager to get their hands on new hardware to replace their aging last-generation systems. The Switch didn’t really have that luxury, and still managed to bring just about everyone back on the Nintendo bandwagon.

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Nintendo Switch games have been selling even better than hotcakes — possibly crepes. In just its first three days on the market Super Mario Odyssey managed to sell 2 million units. This made it the fastest-selling game in the series’ long history in both North America and Europe. Given the ridiculous success of the Wii and Super Mario Galaxy, that’s particularly impressive.

Though the Switch won’t have games with the same name recognition as Mario and Zelda in 2018, there are still quite a few big-name releases on the way. Kirby Star Allies and a new Yoshi game will be arriving, and Bayonetta 3 was just announced as a Switch exclusive during The Game Awards last week. Perhaps the most exciting upcoming game is Project Octopath Traveler, a role-playing game from Square Enix that blends detailed environments with 16-bit character sprites. No firm release date has been set yet, but a demo is currently available on the Nintendo Switch eShop.

To find the best location to buy a Nintendo Switch as well as accessories, check out our handy buyer’s guide.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…

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Nintendo Switch 2 Direct: how to watch and what to expect

A Switch 2 in its dock.

Years of waiting are finally coming to an end (one more time). After a short reveal earlier this year, Nintendo is finally lifting the entire lid on the Switch 2. On April 2, the company will host a Direct presentation entirely built around the console. While Nintendo has been tight-lipped on what exactly will be shown, you can expect it to give us a release date, price, and launch games at the very least. It's sure to be one of the biggest live stream presentations of the year, so you won't want to miss it -- even if you aren't planning on buying a Switch 2 right now.

Want to make sure you catch it when it airs? We've got you covered. Here are all the details for April 2's Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, including when it airs, when you can watch it, and what you can expect to see during it. And if you can't watch it live, we'll be recapping it all live as it happens.
When is the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct?
The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct is set to air on Wednesday, April 2. It'll kick off at 6 a.m. PT, so fans on the west coast will need to wake up bright and early for it. Nintendo has yet to say just how long it'll be, but its 2017 Nintendo Switch reveal lasted just over an hour. You can likely expect about the same here.
Where to watch the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct
As is the case with every Nintendo Direct, you'll be able to stream it on Nintendo's official YouTube channel. We'll embed the placeholder video in this article as soon as it goes live. We also expect that Nintendo will embed the stream into its own website if you feel like watching it there instead.
What to expect from the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct

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Before the Switch 2 Direct, let’s revisit Nintendo’s 2017 Switch reveal one last time

Nintendo Switch

It’s almost time. After a tease of an initial reveal back in January, the wait for firm details on the Nintendo Switch 2 is finally coming to an end. Come April 2, we’ll likely know the system’s specs, price, release date, and its launch games. It’s a moment players have been anticipating for years and something that’s sure to fill online water coolers until the system’s proper launch. I’m just as eager and impatient to see it as you are.

To kill at least one hour during this final stretch, how about we collectively take one last look at the past? In January 2017, Nintendo held a proper live conference to lift the lid on the Nintendo Switch. It was a huge event that had a revolving door of executives taking the stage to break down the system’s features and walk through its launch lineup. It’s the product of a bygone era of E3-style press conferences that has been replaced by the kind of cold, pre-recorded video package we’re likely to see on April 2.

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3 new PlayStation Plus games to play this weekend (March 21-23)

Sargon leaping with his blades and with blue streaks behind him.

After being spoiled with some massive titles hitting PlayStation Plus Essential to kick off the month, such as Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the second lineup of new titles is giving us a chance to catch up on some hidden gems that might've slipped us by on release. In all honesty, nearly every game coming to Extra and Premium this month is worth playing, with sports games, Metroidvanias, and indie games all getting representation. Still, we know gaming time is always at a premium so we made some tough calls to give you the three best new games on PlayStation Plus to play this weekend.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
We called Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown an early game of the year contender in 2024 and stand by that statement to this day. This game reimagines the classic action platformer as a Metroidvania in a way that makes us wonder why it hadn't been done years ago. The progression of abilities is perfectly tuned, with plenty of puzzle platforming challenges that test your critical thinking as much as your dexterity. Even the core combat and movement mechanics are tight and satisfying so the simple act of filling out the intricate map is enjoyable. It is both a perfect starting point for newcomers to the genre, while also a deep and challenging experience for veterans who want to find every secret.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S. Switch, and PC.
Bang-On Balls: Chronicles
Okay, the name Bang-On Balls: Chronicles might not immediately inspire confidence in this indie hit, but stick with us. You play as a ball in an open-world 3D action platformer where you are introduced to new mechanics in every level. Loosely based on historical locations, each level is an open hub where you are free to bounce, fight, and explore with your fully customizable ball hero. It is a modern-day revival of the old collect-a-thon genre without any of the downsides. It has enough variety and content to keep you happy alone but is even better in either 4-player online co-op or 2 2-player split-screen.