https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/11/dont-read-too-much-into-the-ps4s-million-day-one-sales/

Sold more than 1million units on launch day in the USA...... dont read too much into it.

Guy that wrote it probably likes xbox more than playstation.

Its def. not a bad thing it seems to be selling well.

Its still too early to say one way or another, where the Switch will end up, but so far its looking good.

your post is a big waste of space OP because its deliberately ignorant.

you could find Wii U's on the shelf all over during like LAUNCH WEEK. all over. If you don't believe me, there are photos everywhere from the launch time period. Its a fact, regardless of region.

The other fact you act ignorant towards is that the Switch launched in SPRING. Spring is not traditionally a heavy time period for gaming at all. In fact its the dry period after the holiday hot season (November-Jan/Feb). People's wallets have already been emptied for xmas and grandparents (among others) aren't thinking of last minute purchases to give someone like they would be in December for Christmas

obviously the Switch had a good launch. in March selling like 2 million systems with like one game at launch (Zelda) is stupendously great in terms of pushing consoles. If they had a lineup of Zelda+Mario+Pokemon and only pushed that many consoles then I'd agree with you, but they didn't. Also Nintendo only allotted so many systems (or were only able to manufacture so many systems). they've sold out of what they had and people are managing to resell the system online for like $400. 

If you're in a market where a system is hard to find a month after release and people are paying considerably over retail value secondhand online- that suggests great success at launch.

Now the implication that most game system launches go well- that's true. But we do know for a fact that the Switch is off to a solid start. The Vita and Wii U weren't selling over MSRP online on Amazon/Ebay even a WEEK after launch. You could find them at stores.

Its literally impossible for Nintendo (or scalpers) to force demand because in the end there have to be enough people out there willing to pay for the system's store price or ABOVE the store price.

Demand is there.

Will demand stay? will the Switch Library be strong enough to consistently push sales until the holidays? that's a question mark. But there is no debate about launch at this point. A lot of that might be due to Zelda being a giant hit with critics and consumers but irregardless, the system has done well. And again, the difference between launching in March and launching in November is GIGANTIC. 

I think launch numbers are meaningless for any console; what really matters in the long run its the steady sales (with some peaks because holidays and shyte) instead of the "hype-because-its-new sales". But thats the only thing I find valid on your OP. Not trying to sound rude, just giving my opinion about it.

they really are though, you don't realize the headache it is for a company like Nintendo to SEPERATELY develop games for TWO systems at a time. They have to set up differenet manufacturing processes for two systems, two mediums (cartridges 3DS, disks Wii U), split up their development teams to work on totally different systems, they can't push software out anywhere near as quickly for systems, etc.

Ask yourself why Sony completely abandoned pushing first party games out for the Vita early on? its the exact same reason, logistically its a nightmare to split up your first party dev teams to work on two different ecosystems (at least with serious investment)

You are asking all the wrong questions and seem to be under the belief that any console manufacturer can just snap their fingers and have a handheld and home console ecosystem in place without massive investments. Just the design and creation phases of systems is a lot of investment. 

Not to mention if you have 75 million people on one console (hypothetically) and are capable of pushing out high quality software at a much quicker rate on a unified platform- guess what? you are likely to sell a lot more software. One of the biggest problems why the Wii U and 3DS at times had underwhelming software sales were because of game droughts.

One platform helps alleviate that issue.

Its quite obvious why Nintendo has decided to potentially go with one platform, because its a massive amount of work to strongly (essentially exclusively) hold up two platforms. Sony failed miserably at doing it with the VIta, despite the PS4's success, and Nintendo was the opposite, succeeding with the 3DS, but failing on their home console. Literally the flip of the coin. And exactly why you probably won't see Sony bother with another handheld. (before someone brings up Sony VR, comparatively speaking they aren't really developing a lot of software for it, it was just an obvious accessory creation to cash on the craze since they knew that a lot of their PS4 adopters would find it easy to just get the Playstation version of VR)

but yes, Nintendo is way better off with one platform rather than two assuming they end up with roughly the same userbase. having like 75 million people on one platform rather than a weird division like 20+55, is preferable because they don't have to spend as much money and time CREATING an extra device and also marketing said extra device. And make no mistake, marketing all of the different 3DS and Wii U bundles add up.

Simplicity and straight forwardness is they key. I think a big part of why the Switch has good word of mouth and is off to a good start is BECAUSE its a unified all-in-one device for handheld and home gaming. People have wanted this from Nintendo for quite some time and its just business wise a mess to perpetually have two platforms and to divide your fanbase 

When I bought my 3DS, the clerk at GameStop told me something along the lines of "It hasn't been a huge seller."

It may run out of steam but I'd be more worried if it didn't sell out.

right, the massively popular Splatoon in like June or whatever is going to be when the sales 'dive' for the Switch (*sarcasm*). your argument is sort of weak though- the 3DS to this day is known as being incredibly weak compared to the Vita- but it still sells incredibly well.

I think you overestimate the majority of the market- the average gamer is likely more about the gameplay experience than the graphics. and by average I'm talking the person who just throws on Team Fortress or Pokemon or Tetris- like a system's success is clearly based on a lot of variables (the 3DS again shows that as it still is selling great now).

also the whole concept that the Wii is a dust collector is kind of hilarious because people onliny still buy them a lot (look at like Amazon, they seem to be a popular item still.....). The Wii became a 'dust collector' late in its life cycle because Nintendo stopped releasing games on it (look at the Wii from like 2009-2011 or whatever, its a dry series of releases).

just simply looking at the Switch as "omg the Xbox One and Switch are more powerful" shows you're not really looking at it how a lot of consumers do. You're obviously not someone who has buying Nintendo's handhelds. there is some subset of the gaming world who are quite interested in the specific games  over anything else. And in the end the 'sell' of the Switch isn't graphics (although the graphics are exceptionally good for a handheld), but the multi-function of the device in terms of gaming at home and gaming on the go.

If Nintendo can get things like an Internet Browser, Netflix, the Virtual Console- on there by summer- I think the system will maintain great momentum. I mean if it gets those things it will practically double as a regular basic tablet which is another bonus. 

@OP

You could easily find a Wii U in it's launch week on shelves.

Soo...how many units have been sold? Honest question. Apart from Japan I don't think we have information on the sales after the first couple of days?

if reports are true than they increased launch month shipments from 2 million to 2.5 million and here we are at the end of the month with shortages so sales should be something like 2.3 million or so.

WiiU sold about 2.5MM 2MM until it died off. Switch is basically there now.

We'll have to see how Switch does over summer as MK8D and Splatoon land (along with several other games) and its post E3 bonanza before you can claim anything about its launch.

However, ignoring raw numbers, I can say my world of co-workers etc have been much more vocal and have purchased Switches. Only about 10% actually had WiiUs. Granted, it still may be all due to Zelda's awesomeness.

EDIT

Here is my thread where I skillfully tracked WiiU and other systems launches.
http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread.php?id=151051

WiiU was in stock before XMAS and sold 2.3MM in Nov/Dec 2012. With that in mind, I'd put the die off closer to 2MM.

Switch is already passed that.