Nintendo Switch Is Officially The All-Time Fastest-Selling Video Game Console In The US

It’s official. The Nintendo Switch is now the fastest-selling video game home console in the U.S., surpassing the Wii’s record. According to the company, the new hybrid gaming unit has sold more than 4.8 million in the U.S. within the first 10 months of its life cycle. This exceeded all of Nintendo’s expectations and is a testament to the sheer potential of the Switch.

This announcement comes via Nintendo’s own press release, revealing that since its March 3, 2017 release, the Switch has outsold the Wii by 800,000 units in the same 10-month period. Nintendo of America’s President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime also promised that the company plans to bring even more fun for Switch owners in the coming year.

“Fans across the country have experienced the joy of playing their favorite games at home or on the go,” Fils-Aime said. “Now that many more people have received Nintendo Switch systems for the holidays, we look forward to bringing them fun new surprises in 2018 and beyond.”

As to why the Switch has sold as well has it has, Fils-Aime credits the game’s novel aspects, namely its portability. After all, this is the first time that games can seamlessly transition from home console gaming to on-the-go gaming with just one system.

"We believe that this is because the core proposition of Nintendo Switch, a home console that you can play anytime, anywhere, with anyone, is resonating with consumers," Fils-Aimé explains. "It's a whole new way to play video games, and a whole new way to think about what 'home console' means."

As Forbes notes, this is just another notch in the already bloated belt of blockbuster hits for the Japanese video game company after the Switch became a surprise success. In stark contrast to the predictions by industry experts prior to the release of the console, it seems third-party support for the Switch is only going to increase.