There’s no denying that the Xbox Series X/S and PS5 have sold much better than expected, as the demand for the new consoles has most likely been driven by the Coronavirus pandemic.
Even though those consoles are set to sell a massive amount of units, NPD Group’s Mat Piscatella, Kantan Games’ Dr. Serkan Toto, and Ampere Analysis’ Piers Harding-Rolls believe that the Nintendo Switch will once again come out on top in 2021.
According to Gamesindustry.biz, analysts have predicted a sales win for Nintendo, even if the long-rumoured Nintendo Switch Pro model doesn’t appear this year.
“Despite the launch of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles, it will be the Nintendo Switch that ends up selling the most units of console hardware in 2021. Everybody expecting the Switch to run out of steam in 2021 is in for a bitter disappointment,” Toto added.
“The Switch will be the best-selling console this year as well, driven by more first-party games, a hardware refresh, and the device having developed into a lifestyle product for the mass market over the course of 2020.”
Piers Harding-Rolls from Ampere Analysis also reckons that we’ll get the hardware refresh treatment. “Last year I was unconvinced there would be a new flagship model Switch in 2020, but it makes more commercial sense to release an updated version in 2021,” he said.
It’s worth noting that there are numerous factors around this success though. Besides the obvious legacy of Nintendo’s brand that’s still plenty powerful, a lower price point, and available stock.