Move over Xbox One and PlayStation 4: the Nintendo Switch is officially the fastest-selling video game system of this generation. The hybrid system, which allows for both home and portable gameplay, got a mixed reaction when Nintendo first announced it in 2016, mainly due to the company's failure in moving units of its previous console, the Wii U.
Although many considered the Switch a massive gamble for Nintendo, it released in March 2017. The system immediately grabbed players' attention with its potential, although many criticized it due to the limited number of games available for it. By early 2018, the fastest-selling video game system in the U.S. Thanks to titles such as Super Mario Odyssey and Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, both rated highly by critics and fans and often bundled with Switch purchases, Nintendo continued to move units of the system.
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Considering its success, it should come as no surprise then that The NPD Group, which tracks game sales in the U.S., has announced that the Nintendo Switch has become the fastest-selling video game system of this generation of consoles. From its March 2017 launch through November 2018, the Switch has sold more than 8.7 million units in the U.S., outpacing sales of both the Xbox One and PS4 in their first 21-month life cycles.
Nintendo is also the top-selling publisher of video games in the U.S. for the year 2018. The company broke records with its release of ended up ing some Super Smash Bros. Ultimate players in some good old-fashioned gameplay.
Although the Nintendo Switch often gets overshadowed by its competitors, it has become apparent that no one can count out the console just yet. As the system grows into its life cycle and gets more exclusive titles, its sales will continue to remain strong, making it as much of a contender on the console market as the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.