At the end of the 2000s, Nintendo succeeded in converting a large audience to video games thanks to a console based on motion recognition: the Wii.
With 6.3 million sales in France, the one that was presented as a social phenomenon was present in one in five households.
Fifteen years later, this record is about to be surpassed by another console from the Japanese manufacturer.
Read alsoWith the Wii, Nintendo is creating new ways to play
"
The installed base of the Switch in France is now 6.1 million copies
", explains to
Figaro
Philippe Lavoué, general manager of Nintendo France.
"
It will exceed the scores of the Wii by spring, and we are aiming for a total of 7 million sales by the end of 2022. This would be a historic performance
" for a so-called home console.
The Switch has already exceeded 6 million sales of Sony's PlayStation 4.
But the best-selling console title in history in France should still remain in the hands of the portable Nintendo DS (2005-2011) and its 12 million copies sold.
Multi-equipment
Released in 2017, the Switch has retained its appeal to consumers.
It sold 1.3 million copies in the 2021 financial year, “
our second best year
” after an exceptional 2020 vintage, notes Philippe Lavoué.
Half of the buyers are young adults and the other half are families with children.
Unlike its competitors, Nintendo has always been able to pamper a family audience with games accessible to schoolchildren and which can be played with their parents (
Mario, Pokémon, Kirby, Animal Crossing
...).
But he doesn't forget older gamers.
The Switch console offer is segmented into three models adopted by different consumer profiles.
The classic Switch (270 euros, sold 4.9 million copies to date) is purchased by parents as well as by young adults.
The Lite (943,000 sales), a lighter and cheaper portable version (199 euros), is popular with children and a female audience.
The Oled, released last October for 350 euros (221,000 sales), offers a much better screen.
"
It is mainly bought by young men
", notes Philippe Lavoué.
“
But it is not uncommon to see homes with 2 or even 3 Switches
,” continues the general manager.
Read alsoNintendo unveils the Switch OLED, a new version of its flagship console
Achievements for Pokemon
Nintendo intends to push this multi-equipment but also to continue to attract new consumers. And for that, nostalgia is a powerful weapon. “
Those who were children in the era of the Wii and the DS are now young adults. They acquire the Switch because the licenses of their childhood are present there.
»
The remake of
Pokémon Pearl and Diamond
(2006), marketed in November, thus sold 700,000 copies in France.
This makes it the second best seller of the year behind the football simulation
Fifa 22
, available on all consoles on the market.
Follow
Mario Kart 8
,
Super Mario 3D World
and
Animal Crossing
.
Nintendo France is based on the best-selling video games in physical format.
The ranking integrating sales in digital format, which will be communicated in the coming weeks by the union of video game publishers, should be a little different.
Read also“Pokémon”, the new champion of the toy department
Nintendo has not escaped the semiconductor crisis, which is hitting many industries.
This resulted in insufficient inventory for the new Switch Oled model.
“
There are still clouds on the horizon.
The Oled is still difficult to find in stores at the start of the year, and we have no certainty about future supplies
, ”acknowledges Philippe Lavoué.
However, the Japanese firm is betting on this high-end model to encourage the very first buyers of the Switch to renew their equipment.
Read the file Shortage of electronic chips: understanding everything about the semiconductor crisis
These shortages are also hitting rival consoles PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series, which are trickling into French territory.
According to the well-informed Ludostrie site, around 600,000 PS5 and 300,000 Xbox Series were sold in France in 2021. Without these stock problems, the balance of power with Nintendo might have been different.
