Like a prize-winning heavyweight boxer, the Nintendo Switch 2 is flexing over the gaming universe. Just four days after its global launch, the new Nintendo console became the fastest-selling hardware ever for the company—the fastest-selling Nintendo hardware ever. Pause—a mere four days. The fantastic speed of it all did not even let the original Switch or the Wii or any other console in Nintendo’s 130-year history take their time.
The announcement was made official on Nintendo’s Twitter account, and the whole Internet just collectively burst into excitement within seconds. While some cherished the marketing, others… well, the salt mines started working overtime. One unlucky soul, @GhaithDalhoumi, sarcastically welcomed the news on his Twitter timeline: “The internet said nobody is buying 🤣🤣🤣🤣” A jab towards all the doomsayers who predicted the Switch 2 would go south.
Having said that, then, it’s more than selling hardwares. Hot debates are peppered across social media; the grand launch of Switch 2 has set some people on fire. Some players are, of course, begging for new games, @Madam_Miko conceding, “Can’t get enough of it honestly, I need more games asap Nintendo ❤️,” but there are others still giving side-eye to Mario Kart at its $80 price tag, @CyxVault: “The $80 price point for MK is just not worth it, I hope it isn’t the norm moving forward.”
Then, there is the situation with the Steam Deck comparison. While @PsrStephane was mulling over how Valve’s handheld stacks up, @grok dropped the bomb: “Steam Deck has hit around 6 million units sold since its launch three years ago… Compare that to the Switch 2’s blistering 3.5 million in just four days.” Oof. Like comparing a campfire to a volcano.
If anything, those figures may have caught some critics off-guard. “You lived under a rock if you think no one said this console would fail harder than the WiiU,” @Elyrium42 threw in his two cents. Then @Shaunlluo chimed in with, “Those figures don’t even factor in the amount of games and accessories and bundles that people bought on launch.” Cha-ching.
Naturally, a good Nintendo conversation can never be free from console wars that seethed through the hottest debates about game prices to kitchen-sinking comments about bootlickers. One spicy take by @AstralHelios awaited to be served: “y’all are some real ass bootlickers, you know that…? 💀💀💀”
This is, perhaps, in spite of all the love and hate, putting another hit into Nintendo’s hands. They’re not just selling the Switch 2, they’re rewriting all the records for whatever units they have and with talk of a Nintendo Direct dropping this month, (@MRChuks15 teasing “Just wait for the ‘E3’ Nintendo Direct”) the hype-train is unstoppable.
So what next? More games? Price cuts? An unexpected Metroid Prime 4 shadow drop? Could be interesting. The Switch 2-era is going to be out of control if we are to take the last four days as any indicator. If that gets boring, I might have to go and refresh the Nintendo Store page for the 50th time again today. Just in case.
