Nintendo Switch Day One Sales: Sold Out Worldwide, Orders Delayed

By Edwin Kee
Nintendo Switch is set for release on March 2017.
Nintendo Switch is set for release on March 2017.  Polygon.

The Nintendo Switch launch on March 3, 2017 to much fanfare. Ostentibly, it was an instant success, being sold out worldwide. Even those who placed a pre-order for the Nintendo Switch hybrid console will have to play the patience card for a little while longer as stocks of the Switch remain inadequate for distribution to all interested parties. Oh, the fact that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is one snazzy launch game that should not be missed also added to the desirability of the Nintendo Switch.

While a new console release more often than not ends up with a “Sold Out” sign on stores (or even the release of a console that is more than 30 years old like the NES Classic Edition), it must be noted that the Nintendo Switch’s sold out experience is different. Different for the fact that this is no ordinary console which offers just better and improved graphics and hardware than its predecessor. The main achievement of the Nintendo Switch is the fact that this is a high profile, experimental hybrid console that lets you play in Full HD graphics when docked to the TV, and can be removed from the dock for you to continue playing the same game in 720p resolution while you are on the move. Seamlessly.

It remains to be seen as to how long will the Nintendo Switch remain sold out. Hopefully for not too long, as a constant “Sold Out” status would kill off interest faster than usual. Hopefully Nintendo would have learned from their mistake when the Wii first came out, so as not to break the momentum of the Nintendo Switch. Chances are the Nintendo Switch will continue to be available on an extremely limited basis for the next few months, and it would be nice to see a stable supply by the time summer or fall arrives (the sooner, the better) since it would place the Nintendo Switch in good stead leading up to the busy holiday season. Twitter and online forums have been pretty busy with feedback from disappointed fans who are still waiting for their pre-orders to arrive.

In order to have the most comfortable Switch playing experience, many have said that the initial $300 price point that you fork out for it would not be enough, since you would also have to purchase other “essentials” such as a portable adapter, a protective case, a copy of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and of course, the Pro controller for the optimal gaming experience. All of that would probably run up to $500 thereabouts, which is not cheap at all for a new console.

Those who love being early adopters can dive right ahead if you have deep pockets, but if you have a budget to juggle, then I would recommend sitting out on the sidelines for the moment until the initial niggling issues of the Nintendo Switch is worked out before taking the plunge -- perhaps in a revised model a couple of years down the road?

It is nice to see Microsoft and Sony congratulate Nintendo on the Switch’s launch. Now that’s gamesmanship.

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