Nintendo Switch Was Top-Selling Console In US In April

The Nintendo Switch came out of the gate strong after its March launch and Nintendo’s flagship console looks to be continuing its sales streak. In advance of the release of official sales numbers from industry sales analyst NPD Group, Nintendo announced Wednesday the Switch was the best-selling gaming hardware device in April within the United States.

In a release, Nintendo said the Switch sold more than 280,000 units in April. The Switch was also bookended by similarly steady sales for other Nintendo Switch games last month. Nintendo said Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was the best-selling game for April, moving more than 460,000 units in stores and selling an additional 90,000 digital copies.

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Notably, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s strong April sales came despite its April 28 release date, meaning it moved as many units as it did in only two days. Elsewhere, Nintendo also saw equally steady sales numbers from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, as the Switch launch title was the third best-selling title for April.

For Nintendo, the continued strong performance for the Switch — even against continued inventory problems — is a likely relief. After the poor reception for the Wii U, which preceded the Switch, Nintendo needed the new console to be a steadier performer for the company’s bottom line.

So far, the Switch release also stacks up well against other comparable consoles. Nintendo previously confirmed it had sold 2.74 million Switch units worldwide in its first month on sale. By comparison, the Xbox One sold 2 million units within the console’s first 18 days on the market while the PlayStation 4 hit 2.1 million units solid in its first 14 days. The Switch is also on its way to well outpacing the Wii U, which took an entire year to sell 3.06 million units.

On the back of its steady sales, Nintendo wants to remain aggressive in pushing the Switch to consumers. The company said it will ramp up production for the upcoming fiscal year in the hope of adding an additional 10 million Switches to the console’s install base. Nintendo has also said it feels the Switch could be a seller comparable to the original Nintendo Wii. For comparison, the Wii is one of the best-selling consoles in Nintendo’s history, breaking more than 101 million in lifetime sales.

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Part of Nintendo’s strategy in this regard is its staggered release calendar. In the summer and fall, the Switch will see high-profile releases like the combat title ARMS and the third-person action sequel Splatoon 2. By having major games spaced out, Nintendo hopes the momentum and hype for the Switch remains constant and helps to promote general console sales.