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Industry News
2017/03

Nintendo Switch Restocked At Retailers But Then Quickly Sells Out Again

Nintendo’s Switch has been a blockbuster device. The hybrid portable and home console gaming machine launched on March 3rd and was sold out instantly from participating retailers across North America and Japan. Even after stock was replenished, the console has sold out again… and again.

After launching on March 3rd select retailers had their stock replenished on March 8th through March 10th. This didn’t last long, though, and Nintendo’s device was quickly snatched up and sold out again. Retail outlets replenished stock on March 17th and March 20th, including outlets like GameStop, Tos ‘R Us, Target, Best Buy and Kohl’s, but according to Now In Stock [archive] they’ve all sold out… again.

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According to Superdata Research, Nintendo moved 1.5 million Switch SKUs globally within its first week on the market. Given how quickly the system sold out, it’s no surprise.

Nintendo set aside 2 million units to be moved throughout March and it’s likely safe to say that if they moved 1.5 million in seven days then they easily could have moved all 2 million SKUs for March.

We have one more week left for March after this one, so if Nintendo can manage to sell out Switch units over the next two weeks with their next shipments in North America, parts of Europe and Japan, they could be looking at 3 million SKUs being moved throughout the month of March.

According to Ubergizmo, Nintendo has stated that they’re doubling production for the Switch up to 16 million SKUs by the end of 2017. It’s a tall order but according to GameStop’s senior director of merchandising, Eric Bright, he mentioned to GameRant that the Nintendo Switch could end up being a bigger seller than the Nintendo Wii, saying…

“The Nintendo Switch is off to a start right now that it could possibly eclipse the Wii. Initial sales on this have been phenomenal. I can’t give straight numbers, but I can say we’re seeing one of the highest attach rates of software and accessories to a device that we’ve seen in a long time.”

Nintendo had also stated that the Switch’s initial sales start was higher than the original Wii, and obviously selling faster than the Wii U.

So we’ll see how well things turn out for the system moving into April and if they can keep the momentum going as they begin to release more software such as Mario Kart 8: Deluxe.

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