The Nintendo Switch is and always will remain a titan of handheld gaming. With an inventive design, portability, and an endless library, it’s no surprise that the console lasted as long as it did. Because of this, many fans wish to study this console’s history before its successor arrives. Many people ask when the Nintendo Switch was released. As it turns out, this console has been thriving for longer than many might have thought. Here is a breakdown of its history since the release date.
When Did the Nintendo Switch Release?
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The Nintendo Switch itself was released on March 3, 2017. Here, the console is situated roughly between the eighth and ninth generation of gaming consoles. Staying on the market for over seven years, the Nintendo Switch’s success is a testament to the strength of Nintendo’s design for the console. By the time its successor arrives, its eighth birthday will have passed, fairly longer than the average console’s lifespan of roughly six years.
Interestingly, this release was well over three years after the simultaneous release of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. While Nintendo has always been a central pillar of the gaming industry, they have always gone to the beat of their drum. This was best demonstrated through the Wii and Wii U’s unorthodox design along with the experiment of the Lab-O. Of course, this innovative spirit is why Nintendo managed to rise to the top and inspire others.
The Impressive Longevity of the Console
The console is as successful as it is long-lived. Over its run, the Switch gave gamers an endless supply of classics: Super Mario Odyssey, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Breath of the Wild, and many others. Furthermore, titles such as Smash Ultimate took the console even further by uniting the fandoms of dozens of franchises over several years. Even if Tears of the Kingdom was intended as one of the last major releases, the momentum and usage of the Nintendo Switch are far from gone.
A Triumphant fact regarding the Switch is its sales numbers. In total, the Nintendo Switch sold over 140 million units. For reference, the best-selling consoles of all time are Nintendo’s own DS and the PlayStation 2, which barely beat it by ten million. As close as the Switch came, there’s sadly a good chance that the console will be overshadowed by its upcoming successor. Nintendo knows how to sell consoles, and this is the day and age to do that in droves.
What Do We Know About the Switch 2?
While the Switch is by all accounts a blockbuster console, its successor is on the way. For the past year, Nintendo has released steady hints and announcements regarding its successor. Executives confirmed that an announcement would be made by March of 2025. Additionally, as the working title suggests, the confirmed console would be an “upgraded version,” raising the vital question of backward compatibility between the two. Given the declining sales of the Switch as technology advances, executives and fans are eager to see what’s next.
Fortunately, it’s unlikely that the console will go anywhere anytime soon. With seven years of classics and record-breaking sales, the inertia from both should keep the console in the public eye for years, much like the classic N64 and GameCube. Often, game consoles were neatly divided into “portable” and “home.” Nintendo’s creation revolutionized the field by finding a union of both for gamers worldwide.
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