The Nintendo Switch is selling quicker than the Xbox One and PlayStation 4

Despite conflicting reports concerning whether or not the Nintendo Switch will hit its two-year sales targets, it seems that the portable console is doing incredibly well regardless. The Japanese company has just broken US sales records 20 months into the Switch’s life, selling more units in the region than its current generation competitors.

American researchers at the NPD Group have stated that the Nintendo Switch has sold “more than 8.7 million units” in the United States in its first 20 months. This number tops the sales figures of both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 within the same period of their life. It’s worth noting that the data pertains to the end of November, 2018, just before the release of the Switch’s fastest-selling game to date, Super Smash Bros Ultimate.

To put things in perspective, Nintendo updated its first-party game sales figures within the US. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe still sits at the top with 5 million units shipped, closely followed by Super Mario Odyssey with 4.7 million sales. Launch title and personal favourite of mine, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild closes the year at 4 million games in the hands of US citizens, while newcomer Super Smash Bros Ultimate already hits the 3 million mark. Pokémon: Let’s Go Eevee/Pikachu and Super Mario Party come in at 2 million and 1.4 million sales respectively.

With a slew of first-party titles lined up for 2019, such as Luigi’s Mansion 3, Yoshi’s Crafted World, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, a mainline Pokémon and Metroid, Nintendo is sure to have a big year ahead. Still, the company isn’t solely relying on its first-party games any more, with plenty of third-party publishers embracing the hybrid platform.

KitGuru Says: Even if Nintendo fails to meet its lofty two-year sales target, it’s undeniable that the Switch is in a great place right now. Nintendo of America might continue to deny that a revision is on the way, but it’s clear that the company has plenty in store for its hybrid home console. What games have you got for the Switch?

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