From 0 to 100: Nintendo Switch, from risky bet to queen of consoles

When Nintendo launched the Switch in March 2017, many were skeptical. The Japanese company was coming off one of the most difficult periods in its history: the Wii U had been a resounding failure, and competition from Sony and Microsoft seemed increasingly out of reach. Today, almost nine years later, what once looked like a desperate gamble has turned into an unprecedented triumph.

Nintendo has announced that the Switch has surpassed 155 million units sold, becoming the best-selling console of all time for the Kyoto company and overtaking even the legendary Nintendo DS. A milestone that confirms one of the greatest comebacks in video game history. The console has become the company’s economic pillar, contributing to revenues that in recent months have reached nearly 1.9 trillion yen - about 12.2 billion dollars - almost double compared to the same period the previous year, with net profit up 51%.

The secret to its success? A simple yet brilliant idea: combining a home console and a portable system into a single device. No more forced choices between TV play and mobility. The Switch can be played on the couch, on a train, or under the covers, winning over different audiences and merging two markets that Nintendo had always kept separate.

The games did the rest. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Zelda, Pokémon, and the ever-reliable Super Mario turned the console into a hit-making machine. During the pandemic, the Switch became a global escape companion, while The Super Mario Bros. Movie brought renewed attention even from non-gamers.

Today, Nintendo is looking ahead with the Switch 2, already off to a strong start. But one thing is certain: the original Switch is not just a successful console. It is the symbol of a rebirth - and a lesson in how, in the world of video games, innovation can still change everything.

Andrea Pelucchi