Switch sales overtake the Wii U

As anyone who's been following the Gaming Deals blog will know, we've been eagerly tracking the sales progress of the Nintendo Switch since it launched back in March 2017.

• Will the Nintendo Switch succeed? Google Trends say "yes" - February 2017
• One month in, just how well is the Switch doing? - April 2017
• Nintendo Switch set to smash sales target - August 2017
• Why the Switch will win the battle for the UK holiday gaming market - October 2017
• Nintendo Switch continues to surpass sales expectations - October 2017
• Which console won Black Friday? - December 2017
• Switch outsells Xbox One and PS4 in US over December - January 2018

The Switch was originally seen as a gamble by Nintendo. The Wii U, its predecessor, flopped badly, dogged by confusing branding and limited marketing. The Wii U stood in stark contrast to the console that came before, 2006's runaway success, the Wii. Launched amidst scepticism about its motion controls, the Wii went on to become one of the best selling consoles ever. In fact, the Wii became such a cultural touchstone that many people are searching for the 'Wii Switch' instead of the 'Nintendo Switch'.

The Switch's announcement was greeted with similar scepticism. The radical design, which enables handheld play, was viewed by many as an expensive gimmick. The Switch's lack of support for apps and media other than gaming was also seen as a significant disadvantage compared to the Xbox One and PS4.

However, by the end of last March, it was clear that the Switch wasn't going to way of the Wii U. Global stock shortages dogged the console, and it has sold consistently since production issues were solved. Nintendo have significantly revised their predictions for the number of units they would sell.

In their latest financials, Nintendo have now confirmed that the Switch has sold 14.86 million units. This means that in around 10 months, the Switch has eclipsed what the Wii U managed. Between its launch at the end of 2012 and the end of 2016, the Wii U only sold 13.56 million units.

The Switch's comparatively strong performance against the Wii U is tempered by the fact the Wii U was such a disappointment. However, it stacks up against other consoles, too. Per Microsoft's own numbers (via Destructoid), the Xbox One sold 10 million in roughly its first year. The Switch will be well beyond the 15 million mark by that stage. The PS4 was at 14.4 million units by the time its first birthday rolled around.