Nintendo Switch Sales

Nintendo had the best-selling console once again last month, according to the industry-tracking firm The NPD Group. The hybrid handheld/home Switch system outsold Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The system has performed better than the competition in recent months likely due to Nintendo’s supply keeping up with demand.

The Switch debuted in March for $300.

“The Nintendo Switch was August’s best-selling hardware platform,” NPD analyst Mat Piscatella said. “The Nintendo Switch has been the best-selling platform in four of the six months since launching in March 2017.”

When Switch hasn’t topped the chart, Sony has stepped up.

“Sony’s PlayStation 4 was the best-selling platform in both May and June,” said Piscatella. “Sony’s PlayStation 4 continues to be the best-selling hardware platform year to date.”

But while the Switch and PlayStation 4 are doing great, hardware sales overall dropped 6 percent year-over-year to $168 million. That’s because the Xbox One and older systems like Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 are dragging down sales relative to last August. Sales of the Xbox One are slowing down because Microsoft is preparing to launch the upgraded Xbox One X system November 7, so consumers are likely holding back until that is available. This has not had a significant impact on the overall consumer spending on hardware this year, though.

“Year to date, hardware spending has grown 17 percent versus 2016 to $1.7 billion,” said Piscatella. “Consumer spending on Nintendo Switch and plug-‘n’-play devices, such as the NES Classic, are providing growth.”

That growth should continue moving forward. The aforementioned Xbox One X should give a boost to the revenue Microsoft generates — especially since it is debuting at $500. But Switch should continue to sell at a fast pace as Super Mario Odyssey debuts next month alongside a new hardware bundle that will include the game.