Skip to main content

Switch console launch sets 48-hour sales record for Nintendo of America

switch console launch nintendos biggest ever nintendoswitch hardware 1 2 640x0
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Nintendo Of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé confirmed that last weekend’s Nintendo Switch release was the company’s biggest console launch ever in North America, topping a previous 48-hour sales record set by its 2006 Wii console.

In the U.K., retailers revealed that the Switch sold around 80,000 units during its launch weekend, doubling the estimated 40,000 Wii U consoles sold during a 48-hour launch period in 2013, while trailing equivalent launches for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo’s own 3DS.

The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid gaming console that transforms into a portable gaming unit when removed from its TV-connected dock. The new console includes a pair of Joy-Con controllers, which function as wireless input during TV play and can be attached to the system’s touchscreen for on-the-go portable sessions.

Despite skepticism from the gaming community and prerelease concerns regarding Joy-Con connectivity, the Nintendo Switch quickly sold out at many retailers in North America, establishing a new sales record. Speaking to New York Times reporter Nick Wingfield, Fils-Aimé said the Switch “exceeded first 2-day sales in Americas for any system in Nintendo history.”

Fils-Aimé also confirmed that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is now Nintendo’s fastest-selling stand-alone launch title in the United States, not counting games that were bundled with Nintendo console hardware. Nintendo’s previous top-selling U.S. launch title was 1996’s Super Mario 64, which debuted alongside the Nintendo 64 in 1996.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild also emerged as a popular pick during its opening weekend, though Sony’s Horizon: Zero Dawn ranks as the week’s overall biggest seller across all platforms in the U.K. Other Switch launch titles appearing in this week’s U.K. sales charts, according to GamesInudstry.biz, include the minigame compilation 1-2 Switch and the multiplayer action game Super Bomberman R.

Editors' Recommendations

Danny Cowan
Danny’s passion for video games was ignited upon his first encounter with Nintendo’s Duck Hunt, and years later, he still…
6 Nintendo series that still haven’t made an appearance on the Switch
Pit shoots a bow.

Now that 2024 is here, the countdown is on. Rumors suggest that the Nintendo's Switch long-awaited successor is coming by the end of the year. While there's no official word from Nintendo on that yet, there's good reason to think it could happen. The current lineup of Switch games for 2024 is looking thin, so one could reasonably guess that developers may be off working on Switch 2 games by now.

As I begin to reflect on the Switch's wildly successful life span, I can't help but think  about what a bounty of games its given to Nintendo fans. I'm not just talking about Mario and Zelda games either. Most of Nintendo's franchises have been represented in some form, even if some were just rereleases or oddball spinoffs. We've seen Animal Crossing, Metroid, WarioWare, and even F-Zero get new games on the system. Nintendo left virtually no stone unturned this generation, as it turned just about every franchise it had into a cash cow.

Read more
Red Dead Redemption on Switch is already discounted in holiday sale
A screenshot of Red Dead Redemption running on Nintendo Switch.

Nintendo is running a Switch sale for the holiday season -- and it's full of discounts. Chief among those is a 30% price cut on the recently released Red Dead Redemption port for Switch, alongside deals on new releases like Sonic Superstars.

Nintendo's annual holiday eShop sale features discounts on over 30 games. While new Nintendo games like Pikmin 4 and Super Mario Bros. Wonder aren't included, a lot of classic third-party games are available for a bargain.

Read more
Which Nintendo Switch should you buy this Black Friday?
How to Preorder the Nintendo Switch OLED.

Believe it or not, the Nintendo Switch is almost seven years old already. While a brand new Nintendo console may be right around the corner, Nintendo isn't pulling support on its system in 2024. We already know we're getting games like Princess Peach: Showtime! and Mario vs. Donkey Kong alongside HD re-releases of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon. So if you don't own a Switch already, it's still a good time to jump in.

Of course, Black Friday is the perfect moment to buy a new console. This year's sales event brings some brand new deals on Nintendo's hybrid system thanks to some strong bundles. There are several options to choose from over three different Switch models. So, which of the Nintendo Switch Black Friday deals should you buy?
Original, OLED, or Lite?
The Nintendo Switch breaks down into three models. There's the standard Switch that usually retails for $300, an OLED model that comes with a significantly improved screen for $50 more, and a Lite model that's only $200 but can't be hooked up to a TV. Nintendo hasn't cut the prices on any of those, but it has dropped some of them into bundles that will potentially save you some money in the long run.

Read more