Switch vs Wii Sales Comparison - Switch Closes Gap in September 2020 - Sales
by William D'Angelo , posted on 11 October 2020 / 4,993 Views
The VGChartz sales comparison series of articles are updated monthly and each one focuses on a different sales comparison using our estimated video game hardware figures. The charts include comparisons between the 7th generation and 8th generation platforms, as well as comparisons within the 8th generation. There are articles based on our worldwide estimates, as well as the US, Europe, and Japan.
This monthly series compares the aligned worldwide sales of the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Wii.
Switch Vs. Wii Global:
Gap change in latest month: 1,247,433 - Switch
Gap change over last 12 months: 6,132,959 - Switch
Total Lead: 4,665,533 - Wii
Switch Total Sales: 65,713,911
Wii Total Sales: 70,379,444
September 2020 is the 43rd month that the Nintendo Switch has been available for. During the latest month, the Switch closed the gap by 1.25 million units when you align the launches of the two consoles. In the last 12 months, the Switch has outsold the Wii by 6.13 million units. The Wii is currently ahead of the Switch by 4.67 million units.
The Wii launched in November 2006, while the Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017. Therefore, the holiday periods for the two consoles do not lineup, which is why there are big increases and decreases.
The 43rd month for the Nintendo Switch is September 2020 and for the Wii it is May 2010. The Switch has sold 65.71 million units, while the Wii sold 70.38 million units during the same timeframe. The Wii sold current Switch sales in month 39.
The Wii sold 101.63 million units worldwide during its lifetime. The Switch needs to sell another 35.92 million units to outsell the Wii.
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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I'm not even sure anymore the Wii can pass the Switch again with it's holiday season. If Switch sells over 13M during this quarter, it might get very tough for the Wii to catch up again.
Yea, this seems like the last time the Wii will have a lead over the Switch worldwide, if Nintendo could ship around 30M this fiscal year as forecast its unlikely the Wii will surpass the Switch again after this holiday season, especially since Wii sales from here on out begin falling off a cliff.
There is nothing to push such a number for this Q3, and there is two new consoles in the same time. Best Q3 even was 11,6.
I'm not thinking about crazy Q3 sales, I'm thinking about great continuing sales during Q4. I believe Nintendo could sell 6M consoles during the January-March period if sales stay as high as they are. This, along with ~12M during Q3, should be just enough to keep the Wii at bay and stay in front even after the Wii's Holiday season.
The Wii was a monster of its time, but the industry has seen nothing like the Switch before, which is something like the SNES and DS and half a cup of the Wii (and that dash is growing) all wrapped into one. It'll be interesting, Nintendo can literally bank on the motion capabilities of the joycons for some more expanded appeal games - Ring Fit Adventure has been an excellent test case.
"on your left"
There is no doubt Switch will retake the lead after the holidays, but then we get to a nailbiting thrill with the question if Wii can retake the lead temporarily with it's own holiday season. With the current momentum of the Switch that looks increasingly unlikely, but it will depend if that momentum can be retained in 2021.
Nintendo Switch will outsell the Nintendo Wii very soon. Breath Of The Wild sequel will up the Switch sales drastically next year I'd imagine :)
