The Nintendo Switch has been a very popular console since its release. And this popularity isn't showing signs of running out of steam yet. The latest sales figures for the console are proof of this.
Also read: Nintendo Switch: Update 10.0.2 is here and fixes a controller problem
Unsurprisingly, Nintendo's report on its financial results for fiscal year 2020, which ended on March 31, contains the latest sales statistics for the Nintendo Switch. During the period April 1, 2019 / March 31, 2020, Nintendo therefore distributed 21.03 million copies of additional Switch, which brings the total of consoles distributed since its release 55.77 million.
These 21.03 million represent a 24% increase in sales compared to the previous fiscal year. These results were obviously helped by the release of the Nintendo Switch Lite, released on September 30, 2019. The Japanese manufacturer has distributed 6.19 million Switch Lite worldwide since the release of the latter last fall
With respect to COVID-19, Nintendo said its impact was "limit"during this fiscal year. Various problems caused by this health crisis, as well as various problems of supply of components, could however limit the sales of Switch during the fiscal year 2021. Nintendo also plans to distribute "only" 19 million Switch in this new fiscal year, which would represent a decrease of 9.6% compared to sales in fiscal year 2020.
comparison, Sony had distributed 20 million PS4 during the best year of the latter, during the 2017 fiscal year (April 1, 2016 – March 31, 2017). And in terms of sales of Nintendo consoles more specifically, these 21 million Switch distributed represent the best results for a console from the Kyoto company since the 27.11 million DS (all models combined) distributed during the 2009-2010 fiscal year.