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.
PS1 - ! - We must build a console that can alert our enemies.
PS2 - @- We must build a console that offers online living room gaming.
PS3 - #- We must build a console that’s powerful, social, costs and does everything.
PS4 - $- We must build a console that’s affordable, charges for services, and pumps out exclusives.
PRO -%-We must build a console that's VR ready, checkerboard upscales, and sells but a fraction of the money printer.
PS5 - ^ -We must build a console that’s a generational cross product, with RT lighting, and price hiking.
PRO -&- We must build a console that Super Res upscales and continues the cost increases.
