Nintendo Switch Could Be a "Game-Changer" That Expands Gaming's Audience, GameStop Says

After the Wii U underperformed, retailer GameStop appears to be optimistic about Nintendo's Switch console. Speaking during an earnings briefing today, CEO Paul Raines revealed that he played the console and came away impressed.

"The Nintendo Switch, which I played at Nintendo a few weeks ago--we believe could be another game-changer that will expand the audience for gaming," the executive said.

Also during the call, management said early metrics show that GameStop PowerUp Rewards members are aware of, and interested in, the system. Twenty-seven percent of GameStop's PowerUp Rewards members who are aware of the Nintendo Switch plan to buy the console, the company said. This pre-launch purchase intent metric is in line with that of the Xbox One at a similar point in time.

The company pointed out that this figure could go higher after Nintendo's Switch news event in January. During that event, Nintendo will announce the console's price, specs, and launch lineup.

Raines is just the latest to praise the Nintendo Switch, as Skyrim director Todd Howard recently said he played the console at E3 this year and was blown away. "Probably the best demo I've ever seen," he said. The day that the Switch was announced, October 20, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said the console has the potential to "redefine" gaming.

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-switch-could-be-a-game-changer-that-expan/1100-6445671/

Nintendo will be selling a lot of cartridges if NS goes big so Gamestop is sure to like that little fact .

They need to show of its media/tablet functionality for me to judge.

Is it January yet? :/

Best thing is the removal of discs. Guess I got spoiled with the ds, but I loved the fact that pre owned cartridges will never have any issues that discs typically have. Scratched, piece missing, dirty, etc. No worries for any of that with cartridges

Discs typically have a piece missing?

While I can't wait to get my very own Switch, I'm still cautious about the sales. Before the launch of the Wii U people were also heavily optimistic. Even afterwards when the consoles piles up in stores and nobody bought them, people still tried to convinve me that everything's fine and the Wii U will take off like a rocket.

We'll talk about sales at the end of next year, then we should get a clearer picture. For now, it's all just speculation, nothing more.

Of Course, but for now everything sounds and seems more positive for Switch than it did for Wii U.

Lots of positive news are coming from the Switch recently!

Did he mention what game it is changing? Usually people don't like game changes.