Switch Sales performance for Q1 2018 worse than last year

Switch hardware sales are down compared to last year, but software sales are through the roof with 120% more games sold in Q1 2018.

Posted by Ashley King on July 31, 2018

Nintendo has revealed its latest financial results for Q1 2018, which contained some interesting info about Switch hardware and software sales. According to the report, Switch hardware sales are down 5% compared to Q1 2017's performance. Q1 2017 saw 1.97 million Switch consoles sold, while Q1 2018 saw just 1.88 million sold. Despite the smaller number, the really interesting info comes from the Switch's software sales.

Software sales for the Switch were up 120% compared to last year. Q1 2017 saw 8.14 million software sales, while the same quarter in 2018 saw 17.96 million software sales. The attach rate for Switch owners is a massive growth point for Nintendo. The sales rate for some of the new games for the Switch is impressive, too.

Nintendo Software Sales

(Q1 2018 sales in parenthesis)


  1. Super Mario Odyssey - 11.17m (+ 760k)
  2. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - 10.35m (+ 1.13m)
  3. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - 9.32m (+ 840k)
  4. Splatoon 2 - 6.76m (+740k)
  5. 1-2 Switch - 2.45m (+ 160k)
  6. ARMS - 2.01m (+ 160k)
  7. Kirby Star Allies - 1.89m (+630k)
  8. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 - 1.42m (+110k)
  9. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze - (1.40m)
  10. Nintendo Labo - (1.39m)

Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze on Switch was the best-performing Switch title for Nintendo in Q1 2018, but Nintendo Labo's sales are impressive considering it's a collection of cardboard Legos to help you play a series of mini-games. Also equally impressive is the fact that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe continues to perform well.


Nintendo eShop Credit - $20

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