Their expenses will be much lower with only one console to support and there is potential for greater software sales with combined markets. Ninty only needs 30 million to consider this thing a success, 50 million would be a hit 70+ would be a big hit.

Hoe much software they move 1st and 3rd party will really determine the success of the console. In order to move huge numbers (20 million copies for the top grossing games) they are going to need an install base of over 30 million, even with Nintendo's attach rate.

For third parties to see games selling 2m+ (which many of them see as the minimum "success" mark), we're looking at a healthy 40 million users.

60-70m and I think its a pretty decent success.
Its a harder market to sell handhelds with smart phones competition.

Everything below 80M should be disappointing considering Nintendo Switch will replace both home console and handheld.

Im not talking about total software sales, i mean individual sales of Nintendo franchises.

You said "anything less than 70 million means Nintendo continues to decline in relevance" so if their actual games remain stable or even increase than would that still be a decline in relevance?

Mario Kart has sold about 14 million on 3DS & 8 million on Wii U, what if it sells 18 million on Switch?

Smash Bros has sold about 8 million on 3DS & 5 million on Wii U, what if it sells 12 million on Switch?

2D Mario & 3D Mario have each sold about 10 million on 3DS & 5 million on Wii U, what if they each sell 13 million on Switch?

Splatoon is going to sell about 5 million on Wii U, what if it sells over 8 million on Switch?

Skyward Sword sold less than 5 million, what if Breath of the Wild supasses that?

Neither Xenoblade nor Xenoblade X sold over 1 million, what if Xenoblade 3 sells 1.5 million?

Pikmin has never sold over 2 million, what if Pikmin on Switch does?

The Fire Emblem games on 3DS are the best selling in franchise history, what if the next entry continues to increase the franchises popularity?

None of the Kirby games released this generation passed 2 million, what if it does on Switch?

You get the picture, even if Switch sells less than 3DS+Wii U would we still say Nintendo is becoming less relevant if their games sell better?

I'm not sure if selling just your own software on your own hardware is sustainable on this scale. I mean if it is, good for them, but if they need additional support from 3rd parties, those don't give a shit about how much Nintendo games sell if the install base is low.

I think 40-50M

30 million +

But like I said, your actual quote was about Nintendo declining in relevance so 3rd parties are irrelevant to the point.

Would Nintendo be declining in relevance if their hardware sales drop but their franchises grow in sales?

Wait what? A decline in relevance means exactly that. It means people who aren't necessary fans of Nintendo still buying their shit. And if no 3rd parties come on board it becomes a niche. You know what a niche is? Exactly the opposite of relevant.

The software numbers have a good chance of increasing because Nintendo isn't splitting their base anymore. But that doesn't mean they gain relevance. That just means Nintendo fans buy more software because more of it is available to them.

The issue is gonna come in with if their movie business, anime, and cell phone games become successful. The console business is just going to be a slice of Nintendo on whole.