Switch 2 Sales Predictions: Next PS2 or Wii U Disaster?

[super_etecoon]

Olivernintentoal said:

super_etecoon said:

Any time anyone brings up the COVID boost for Switch I will counter with the Animal Crossing boost for Switch. That game was going to be amazingly successful and sell a TON of hardware whether we were locked down or not. Maybe not the 45 million it has sold, but certainly 25-30 million, same as a Pokemon, Zelda, Mario, or Smash. It's in the same category and has been for quite a while. I know the Switch certainly received a bit of help, but it isn't like the Switch was floundering and was saved by a global health crisis. And the hype levels for ACNH were at a fever pitch long before most had even heard of a coronovirus, let alone COVID 19.

I think it's difficult to argue against a Covid boost, but also you're right that the increase in Switch sales was not exclusively influenced by Covid. Typically there are a myriad of factors that influence a certain outcome. Heck, I bet quite a few people used their US Covid stimulus checks to buy a Switch!

I absolutely don’t argue that COVID had an impact on the sales of the Switch (and every other industry involving people staying home). I only have to state that it isn’t like the Switch was failing or flailing prior to the pandemic. Nintendo teed themselves up for success and certainly was able to reap the benefits of the crisis. I haven’t seen any speculation on the exact level of benefit COVID brought to the platform, but I could see it selling 10 million less if the pandemic hadn’t happened. 

Nntendo performed a clinic on how to support a console for 8 years this generation. That has more to do with the success than anything else.