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Switch becomes fastest-selling console in US history, according to Nintendo

Nintendo starts 2018 with a victory lap

Nintendo Switch - Neon Red/Blue Joy-Cons in Joy-Con Grip next to Dock, all sitting on a wooden background James Bareham/Vox Media

Nintendo has announced that its portable/console hybrid is now the fastest-selling console in U.S. history, according to its own internal sales estimates. The Nintendo Switch is even beating the sales of the original Wii in the United States.

“The home console that players can take wherever they go launched March 3, 2017, and in 10 months has sold more than 4.8 million units in the United States, according to Nintendo’s internal sales figures,” Nintendo stated. “That’s the highest total for the first 10 months of any home video game system in U.S. history, surpassing Nintendo’s own Wii system, which was the previous record holder with more than four million units sold during the same timeframe.”

It’s going to be hard for Nintendo to top 2017 for hardware or software sales, as both Super Mario Odyssey and Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild helped to move the hardware. Nintendo released a system that everyone seemed to want while also providing it with its most popular games.

“In the U.S., more than 60 percent of Nintendo Switch owners have Super Mario Odyssey, and over 55 percent own The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,” Nintendo announced. “Not only are these games system-sellers, but they’re also two of the highest-rated games in history.”

That’s great news, Nintendo ... but when are we going to be able to buy the NES Classic again?

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