3 reasons that made Nintendo Switch a succes

[The_Liquid_Laser]

I knew the Switch was going to be a big success (100m+) even before it launched.  Here are the top 4 reasons why in ascending order:

4. Strong Launch - The main title available at launch sets the tone for a system.  The Wii had Wii Sports.  Not only was this a popular game, but it also drew in a big new audience into gaming.  This game set the tone for the whole Wii system.  The NES launched with Super Mario Bros (in the US at least), and it was both highly popular and it also makes people think of the NES as a system of 2D platformers.  The Wii U launched with Nintendoland, a dud game for a dud system.  Switch launched with Breath of the Wild.  It's a fantastic game open-world game that appeals to a lot of gamers: 2D Zelda & 3D Zelda, core Nintendo as well as core Sony/Microsoft.  It has very broad appeal, but mostly for modern gamers.  Switch was not focused on winning back the Wii or DS audience that it lost.  Instead it was the ideal system for the current mass market.

3.  Consolidated resources - HD games can really slow down development, but Switch would not have development droughts to the same extent that the Wii U had.  All 3DS and all Wii U development teams are making games for Switch.  Sure there are still slow seasons and peak seasons on Switch, but they were far worse on the Wii U.  Switch would always have enough first party games to keep people coming.

2.  Hardware Has Fantastic Value - In the past a person would have to buy both home and handheld hardware to have access to all of Nintendo's software.  Now they only need to buy one system to experience all Nintendo's games.  Not only does this appeal to people who owned a Wii U and 3DS, but it also appeals to people who owned PS4 and Vita, or PS4 and 3DS (probably the most common).  Also, it is extremely convenient to game on a TV and then go handheld whenever you need to, or vice versa.  The Switch is one piece of hardware that fits all of a person's gaming needs and that makes it a fantastic value.

1.  King of Handhelds - Nintendo is undefeated in the handheld market.  For so many reasons they do things right in handheld gaming and no one can touch them.  With the Switch they can bring all that experience, all of that prowess, to the home market as well.  Not only are they guaranteed to bring in the 3DS and Vita market into the Switch, but they can reach into the home market and bring in a lot of those gamers too.  The more Switch progresses and the bigger its game library gets, the more that almost every gamer is going to want to own one.

Last edited by The_Liquid_Laser - on 10 January 2020