Hardware boost isn't great, but it is the 4th pokemon game for the system. Splatoon 3 will do marginally better, but since Splatoon 2 is already there it won't be as impactful.

I think Nintendo needed a new hit ip for the later years.

Another thing people need to point out for stronger digital is that it doesn’t have a double pack sku. 

Do you realize that the Famicom/NES lasted ~7.5 years before its successor?  And the NES had direct competition (PC Engine, Mega Drive).  Switch doesn't have that issue and its hardware/software sales are still incredibly healthy... without a price drop since launch, no less.

I live in the States.  Launched (NES) in 86, replaced in 91.  5 years.  Either way, if I'm wrong I'm wrong.  Nothing to get excited about.  I'm expecting new hardware from Nintendo late 2023 or early 2024.  I've owned every piece of Nintendo hardware and thus look forward to it.

It was released in 85 in the US.

It is. DS declined from 19.5 million (2010) to 6.5 million (2011) but 3DS was released in Q1 of 2011 which destroyed DS sales

The odds for a Switch 2 coming in Q1 2023 are... low to not say impossible. If Q1 2023 was a remote possibility Nintendo would be teasing new hardware by now. Q4 2023 is the earliest and even this is not guaranteed, thus Switch sales wouldn't be cannibalised to yield such a massive decline 

21 million (2022) and 14 million (2023) are a more realistic estimate even with a Switch 2 launching in Q4 2023 which I indeed don't believe it's happening (Q4 2024 more likely)  

I live in the US too, but that's irrelevant as to when the console debuted.  And the NES launched in '85 here in the States, not '86.

Top 30: Famitsu software sales (1/24/22 - 1/30/22) - Top 30 - Nintendo Everything

1. [NSW] Pokemon Legends: Arceus – 1,424,657 / NEW
2. [NSW] Mario Party Superstars – 19,169 / 833,192
3. [NSW] Pokemon Brilliant Diamond / Shining Pearl – 14,951 / 2,483,102
4. [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 13,064 / 4,400,203
5. [NSW] Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – 12,986 / 4,739,797
6. [NSW] Minecraft – 10,663 / 2,496,078
7. [NSW] Animal Crossing: New Horizons – 8,695 / 7,166,966
8. [NSW] Ring Fit Adventure – 7,733 / 3,059,839
9. [NSW] Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain – 7,127 / 237,549
10. [NSW] Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo Teiban! – 6,749 / 2,584,176

11. [NSW] Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX 2 – 6,460 / NEW
12. [NSW] Shikabanegurai no Boukenmeshi – 6,278 / NEW
13. [NSW] Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition – 5,746 / NEW
14. [NSW] Zelda: Breath of the Wild – 5,630 / 1,944,872
15. [NSW] Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics – 5,480 / 916,793
16. [PS4] Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition – 4,986 / NEW
17. [NSW] Pokemon Sword / Shield – 4,807 / 4,301,979
18. [NSW] Splatoon 2 – 4,292 / 4,023,129
19. [NSW] Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury – 4,270 / 1,009,997
20. [NSW] Kamigami no Asobi Ludere Deorum: Unite Edition – 3,691 / NEW
21. [NSW] New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe – 3,401 / 1,152,627
22. [NSW] Human: Fall Flat – 3,076 / 233,241
23. [PS4] Shikabanegurai no Boukenmeshi – 2,771 / NEW
24. [PS5] Uncharted Treasure Hunter Collection – 2,730 / NEW
25. [PS4] Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX 2 – 2,647 / NEW
26. [NSW] COGEN: Sword of Rewind – 2,574 / NEW
27. [NSW] Dragon Quest XI S (New Price Version) – 2,570 / 182,664
28. [NSW] Fitness Boxing 2 – 2,498 / 181,147
29. [NSW] Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! – 2,300 / 692,069
30. [NSW] Super Mario Odyssey – 2,002 / 2,319,965

NS - 26

PS4 - 3

PS5 - 1

Correct me if I'm wrong but that 85 launch was limited and was only new york.  The NES didn't launch across the country till 86.

Either way quite a few seem to take my opinion that new hardware is coming in 23 or 24 to heart.  Not sure why, does it really matter?  The switch is a massive success.  Nothing is going to change that.

That's awesome, thanky you very much!

It seems that Pokémon has a very loyal fanbase on Switch.