Why?

1. ZeldaBOTW - First foremost this is one of the best games ever created. Not to say there are some out there who won't think its their cup of tea, but its sales, ratings, and ability to sell consoles proves my point.

2. Good Selection - When you look at the quality of ports and new IP plus that it launched over the time when game launches are little to none, it has a superb launch library. All signs of success and the latest additions demonstrate that will only get better in 2018.

3. Solid functionality - The flexibility of the system design to be a home console or portable with no complications or pre-reqs is an amazing feat on its own. Then you consider the fact that it is 100% a game console. No other messy functionality. Plug-n-Play at its finest.


Those items are not mentioned to suggest it doesn't have room for improvement. I expect the game library in regards to AAA 3rd parties to narrow the gap a lot in 2018. Sure, pixel to pixel comparisons will obviously remain in the others camp. But the added feature of portability plus solid framerates/gameplay will be good enough to many and will continue to propel Switch in sales. As with any game console, games are all that really matter. You have the content at comparable gameplay and majority of consumers will go with what functionality is more important. In this scenario, I'm betting most will love the Switch primary difference (home + portable).

Best game since OoT. Nothing can't beat a good Zelda like another good Zelda.

Well, I was not trying to imply it will be a long term success, I just wanted to know why you thought it was succeeding right now.

And so far the answers vary more than I expected. A lot of very valid reasons and solid opinions.

For two reasons. They figured out what people want and they also figured out how to market it.

It's different. But simple and direct like Wii was.

It's similar to the Wii, but not too similar. It's technical, and not boring like a box sitting under a TV, but no so technical that its too complicated. It's been marketed well and been made clear that it is it's own thing, and different, like the Wii was. It launched with a huge exclusive, and showed a fairly clear vision of what games were to come, unlike the Wii U. The Wii U also felt like an extension of the Wii in a way, like a mid gen refresh almost, so people have been hungry for something truly new from NiN. It's portable in a constantly commuting world. The worldwide economy is doing ok.

Its also known by the casual general public as a home console in a handheld, which blows people like parents and young kids away. What they fail to realize is that while it is a home console in a way, based on everything that makes a console a home console, the Switch doesn't fit very well, or at least fits much better as a handheld, but they don't really know that. The price sure makes it seem like a console and a bargain. Again, very well marketed.

There is the factor that while PS4 is super popular, it's relatively cheap, unlike the PS3. The XB1, it's competition, is basically the same as a PS4, just less games, less exclusives, and less power, for practically the same amount of money. XB1 is also cheap though, so if you have a PS4 or XB1, and you have extra money to burn, it might as well be on games, or something different and unique, like a Switch.

I can see success for it, but I have a hard time seeing Wii lifetime sales. With the PS4 in the position it is and looks to remain, I would assume your going to see something similar to WiivsPS3vs360, except PS4 will be the 100M seller this time, and Switch will be the second place console with XB1 in last place. How far ahead of XB1 does Switch end up, is the question.

Double post.

First post and nailed it. :)

My serious answer: It was a combination of a perfect storm and Nintendo capitalizing on their strengths. 

First of all, I don't think it's a secret that Nintendo's forte is handhelds. Deciding to make they're next home console a handheld in addition to being its home console meant that Nintendo simply couldn't fail. This came with the compounded advantage of no longer splitting the Nintendo fanbase between two platforms.

Second, Nintendo fans were hungry. The 3DS wasn't enough, and Wii U just didn't deliver.

Finally, Nintendo was ready. The Switch launched with the best Zelda to date. Not a few months later, Mario Kart. Splatoon 2 in the summer. Pokken later this week. Mario Odyssey in October(?). Nintendo is on point. 

On more serious note, after Wii U faile, I think its very obvous why Switch is selling great:

-Appling and very intresting hardware in form of hybrid, some people still dont understand that Switch is aiming handheld and home console market in same time. Also it has very good value like real home console and real handheld in one, and two Joy Cons for local multiplayer out of box.

-Huge system seller games from start. Zelda BotW is huge system seller game, that is followed by MK8, Splatoon 2 and soon we will have another big one Mario Odyssey even Switch still didnt meat demand and there are still stock problems. Also, steady flow of games, Nintendo is releasing basic one stronger or bigger game every month.

-Good marketing and branding, its totaly on spot people heard for Switch and they know what Switch is about.



Intresting, those are all things that Wii also had and on which Wii U totaly failed.