Some years? By the middle of last year there were still some VGChartianz that believed PS4 wouldn't pass Wii in sales.

I dont think that's a very good way to measure, to me it makes more sense to compare the titles in an individual year rather than just looking at the top 40 spanning 35 years. Also I think it makes more sense to look at recent trends because things can change from one generation to the next. So let's take a look at Switch.

Criteria

Small-under 1 million

Moderate-over 1 million

Big-over 5 million

Huge-over 10 million

2017

March-Zelda: Breath of the Wild/1-2 Switch

April-Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

May-nothing

June-ARMS

July-Splatoon 2

Aug-Mario+Rabbids

Sept-nothing

Oct-Fire Emblem Warriors/Mario Odyssey

Know-nothing

Dec-Xenoblade 2

2017 had 1 huge hit each quarter with 1 or 2 moderate hits to accompany them. About as well rounded as it gets.

2018

Jan-nothing

February-Bayonetta 2

March-Kirby: Star Allies

April-Labo Variety/Robot

May-DKC: Tropical Freeze/Hyrule Warriors

June-Mario Tennis: Aces

July-Octopath Traveler

Aug-nothing

Sept-Xenoblade: Torna/Labo Vehicle

Oct-Super Mario Party

Nov-Pokemon Let's Go

Dec-Smash Bros Ultimate

2018 had a handful of small-moderate sellers in the first 3 quarters followed by 3 huge hits in the final quarter.

2019

Jan-NSMBU Deluxe

Feb-nothing

March-Yoshi's Crafted World

April-Labo VR

May-nothing

June-Super Mario Maker

July-Marvel Alliance 3/Fire Emblem: 3 Houses

Aug-Astral Chain

Sept-Zelda: Link's Awakening

Oct-Ring Fit Adventure/Luigi's Mansion 3

Nov-Pokemon Sword/Shield

2019 had a few moderate-big hits in the first half followed by a few moderate-big hits and a couple huge hits in the 2nd half.

2017 had an even mix but that could be simply because they needed to make sure it got off to a great start while 2018 was the opposite where the biggest titles were all concentrated around the holidays and 2019 wasnt as extreme as 2018 but still was more concentrated around the 2nd half of the year, especially when you consider Mario Maker released in the last week of the 1st half.

When we talk about the big games being release first half or second half showing the TOP 40 on the last decades that makes a lot more sense than listing all SW.

The generalization "Nintendo is known to launch their biggest games in the second half of the year" sounds like it is a long established practice of Nintendo.

Switch alone is too young to even see a trend of first/second half releases, so we need to go back at least a few additional years.

No it doesnt. Things change and something that may have been true in the 80s or 90s may no longer apply in the 00s or 10s.

On top of that just looking at the top 40 of all systems combined is not going to tell the whole story because it leaves out multiple systems. SNES, N64, GC, GBA & Wii U combined have 1 game on that list.

Another this is that the top 40 bottoms out at 18 million, that is such a ridiculous high threshold for big games.

Looking at it on a yearly basis, by decade or by system are much better ways than just lumping together the top 40 spanning 35 years of nearly a dozen devices together.

I agree more years are needed and if you look back at the 2011-2016 period I believe you will see more big titles in the 2nd half.

2011

March-Nintendogs+Cats, Steel Diver, Pilotwings, Pokemon Black/White 

April-Xenoblade Chronicles

June-Ocarina of Time 3D

Sept-Star Fox 64 3D, Kirby Mass Attack

Oct-Pokemon Rumble, Kirby Return to Dreamland

Nov-Mario 3D Land, Zelda: Skyward Sword

Dec-Mario Kart 7

2012

Feb-Kid Icarus Uprising, PokePark 2

March-Mario Party 9

May-Mario Tennis Open

Aug-NSMB2

Oct-Style Savvy, Art Academy, Pokemon Black/White 2

Nov-Paper Mario Sticker Star, Nintendo Land, NSMBU

2013

Feb-Brain Training, Fire Emblem: Awakening

March-Luigi's Mansion, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon

May-DKC Returns 3D

June-Animal Crossing

Aug-Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, Pikmin 3

Sept-Zelda: Wind Waker HD

Oct-Pokemon X/Y, Wii Party U

Nov-Zelda: Link Between Worlds, Mario Party: Island Tour

2014

Feb-DKC Tropical Freeze

March-Yoshi's New Island

May-Kirby Triple Deluxe, Mario Golf, Mario Kart 8

June-Tomodachi Life

Sept-Hyrule Warriors

Oct-Pokemon Art Academy, Smash Bros 3DS, Bayonetta 2

Nov-Pokemon OR/AS, Smash Bros Wii U

Dec-Captain Toad

2015

Feb-Majora's Mask 3D, Kirby Rainbow Curse

March-Codename Steam, Mario Party 10

April-Xenoblade 3D

May-Splatoon

Sept-Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer, Mario Maker

Oct-Zelda: Triforce Heroes, Yoshi Woolly World

Nov-Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon, Mario Tennis Ultra Smash

Dec-Xenoblade X

2016

Jan-Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam

March-Hyrule Warriors Legends, Zelda: Twilight Princess HD, Pokken Tournament

April-Star Fox Zero

June-Kirby Planet Robobot

July-Fire Emblem Fates

Aug-Metroid Prime: Federation Force

Oct-Paper Mario Color Splash

Nov-Mario Party: Star Rush, Pokemon Sun/Moon

Dec-Mario Maker 3DS

I was trying to be polite.

That is as smart as saying you think the Wii's successor has a genuine chance of beating the ps2. 

/facepalm. 

It's beaten Wii and PS1. Time to run over GB.

And things changed from the 00s or 10s to today as well. Do a comparison by the biggest 20 of Switch if you like. But putting everything together that Nintendo launched to say it doesn't put big software in the first half won't cut it.