When Nintendo announced the Switch Lite, many Nintendo fans were curious what removing the hybrid nature of the Switch — a console almost entirely centered around its nature as a hybrid portable and home console system — would do to sales. Thanks to the financial report released on October 31, 2019 (as shared by CNET) we now know.
The Switch Lite — released on September 20, 2019 — managed to sell 1.95 million units before the end of the fiscal quarter on September 30, which is impressive considering the short length of time it was on the market before the end of the quarter. This number contributes to the Switch’s overall combined sales of 41.67 million units. For comparison, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System sold 49.1 million units over its lifetime, and the Wii sold 101.6 million units (making it Nintendo’s best-selling console in its history).
Three of Nintendo’s biggest first-party game launches of the year also released during this fiscal quarter: Link’s Awakening (2019), Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and Super Mario Maker 2. Link’s Awakening (2019), which also released on September 20, sold 3.13 million copies by the end of the quarter. Fire Emblem: Three Houses sold 2.29 million copies from its launch date of July 26. Super Mario Maker 2 sold 3.93 million copies since its launch on June 28.
With the release of Luigi’s Mansion 3 on October 31, and Pokémon: Sword and Pokémon: Shield releasing on November 15 alongside a limited edition Switch Lite, it will be interesting to see the sales figures in the newly started fiscal quarter.
