Latest news with #TheGameBusiness
Metro
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Switch 2 third party games sold 'below our lowest estimates' says publisher
The Nintendo Switch 2 may have had a hugely successful launch, but sales for third party games are lower than anticipated. The Nintendo Switch 2 is the fastest-selling console in history, with over 3.5 million units sold within its first four days, but its success hasn't trickled down to third party games yet. While Mario Kart World was the main attraction at launch, the Switch 2 has arguably the best third party support of any Nintendo console yet – with the likes of Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, Split Fiction, Yakuza 0 Director's Cut, Hogwarts Legacy, Street Fighter 6, and others. When compared to the dire third party line-up for the original Switch launch (Just Dance 2017, Shovel Knight, Super Bomberman R, and Skylanders: Imaginators), it's a substantial improvement – but this hasn't translated to a significant boost in game sales. According to figures collated by The Game Business, 62% of Switch 2 physical game sales in the US on launch week were for first party games, which doesn't include the Mario Kart World bundle. As for the UK, 48% of Switch 2 physical game sales on launch week were for first party games, excluding the Mario Kart World bundle. However, if you do include bundle, this percentage jumps up to 86%, leaving only 14% for third parties. While you might be raising an eyebrow at the emphasis on physical sales, of the games which were released both digitally and physically, over 80% of Switch 2 game sales came from physical retailers – so it's a fair reflection of the overall picture. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. When you compare these figures to the original Switch launch, it is a small improvement. According to Circana figures, 81% of US physical game sales were from first party games on the Switch when the console launched in March 2017, while it was 89% in the UK. This suggests third parties have fared slightly better during the Switch 2's launch. However, according to the report, most third party Switch 2 games have sold in 'very low' numbers. An unnamed third party publisher described the numbers as 'below our lowest estimates'. This perceived improvement is also undercut by the fact the Switch 2 had far more physical games available at launch. The original Switch only had five, whereas the Switch 2 had 13 in total, so the losses for third parties are higher overall, as they had a larger presence. As for the potential reasons as to why this has happened, it's a complex mixture. Nintendo didn't release Switch 2 consoles to press until launch, which prevented outlets from posting reviews of these games until after the fact. Speaking to The Game Business last month, one unnamed PR boss said the 'lack of independent critical validation is going to make it very hard for us' and they may have been 'better off waiting a few weeks'. There are other factors at play too. The Switch 2 is expensive, and when Mario Kart World is the main attraction, many people have perhaps ignored the third party selection until they've maxed out Nintendo's kart racer. And by that point Donkey Kong Bananza will be out. Unlike the original Switch, the Switch 2 has backwards compatibility, with old titles – and including upgrades for some titles, so people have less reason to invest in brand new games. More Trending Combined with the fact that the majority of the Switch 2 third party line-up were ports of older titles, and the negativity around Game-Key Cards, it's easy to see why sales might have been lower than hoped for. Notably, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, one of the few games not to utilise Game-Key Cards, was the best-selling third party title on the system, beating launch sales for The Witcher 3 on the original Switch. It's possible this situation will be confined to the Switch 2's launch, and third party sales will pick up in the coming weeks, but Nintendo systems are synonymous with Nintendo games – which has only been amplified through the poor third party support in prior generations. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see how things shake out when higher profile games hit the system, such as Elden Ring, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Star Wars Outlaws, and 007 First Light. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Metroid Prime 4 advert on London tube confuses everyone with 'out now' sticker MORE: Games Inbox: What is the hardest video of modern times? MORE: NetEase game Blood Message may have the best video game graphics ever
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Switch 2 the Fastest-Selling Nintendo Console in UK History, but PS5 and Xbox Series X/S Launches Were Bigger
Nintendo Switch 2 was the company's biggest UK console launch in its history, early sales data has revealed, beating the previous record holder, Nintendo 3DS. That said, Switch 2's UK launch sales were still lower than those of the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S in the country, according to sales data from NielsenIQ, reported by The Game Business. While a full tally of Switch 2 sales is yet to be publicly revealed, it will be north of the 113,000 units Nintendo 3DS shifted in the UK back in 2011. Indeed, it is reportedly more than double that of the supply-constrained Switch 1, meanwhile, which sold over 80,000 units in 2017. To a large degree, Nintendo has avoided the same kind of hardware shortages for Switch 2 that were seen around the UK launches of both the Switch 1 and the Wii, when some customers faced weeks of waits in order to finally get their hands on new consoles. So, why hasn't Switch 2 beaten PS4 and Xbox Series X/S in the UK — or PS5, even, which suffered from particularly bad stock shortages for months after arrival? Well, as The Game Business reports, the UK has always been a comparatively tough market for Nintendo, due to the popularity of both Sony and Microsoft consoles. High ownership of all three major platforms has meant market share is more divided than in other countries where Nintendo holds a clear advantage over either Sony or Microsoft's machines (Japan), or in other countries where PlayStation has an even greater margin over also worth noting the price of the Switch 2 in the UK, a relatively steep £395.99 without Mario Kart world, and £429.99 with Mario Kart World. Yesterday, unverified Switch 2 market data from France was shared online by a noted sales insider, Wccftech reported. This claimed that Switch 2 had sold 200,000 units in the country at launch, doubling the record of the previous fastest-selling console (PS5). Additionally, the attach rate of Mario Kart World — the amount of Switch 2 console owners with the game — was reportedly over 95%. Nintendo forecast 15 million global sales of the Switch 2 and 45 million game sales for its current financial year ending March 31, 2026. Some analysts have called that figure "conservative." Nintendo has said it's aiming for a launch on par with the first Switch. If you're still getting started with Mario Kart World, you may like some pointers on how to unlock the game's secret Mirror Mode, including the ability to explore it within Free Roam using a cool Super Mario 64 secret. Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ or find him on Bluesky @
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
New data reveals GTA Online players also love Minecraft and Fortnite
Source: Rockstar Games Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto Online still appears in player activity reports, but emerging data indicates that much of its most hardcore players are also spending regular time in other mega-franchises. New research by analytics company Ampere, reported through The Game Business, presents a surprising intersection of gameplay among GTA Online players, particularly with games like Minecraft, Fortnite, and Call of Duty. GTA Online player crossover indicates powerful affinity for Fortnite and Minecraft Based on Ampere's April 2025 figures, GTA V hit 20 million monthly active players, a high since June 2022. The report added that most of those players also played other top-grossing games. Fortnite topped the crossover chart, followed by Roblox, Call of Duty, and Minecraft, with the latter recording a high 11% overlap with GTA Online players. Interestingly, this crossover appears in the same month that the Minecraft movie became popular, which can possibly enhance player interest. This indicates a majority of GTA players are not committed to a single game but are transitioning freely between open-world sandboxes and creative multiplayer spaces. This cross-game behavior illustrates the way games like GTA Online are more like virtual communities than standalone experiences. Even with no recent months of new DLC content, GTA Online is sticky enough to bring players back, even if they're also constructing in Minecraft or fighting in Fortnite. Average playtime falls among Minecraft enthusiasts playing GTA Online Even with the huge user base, the report also highlighted a significant decline in average playtime. Among gamers who played both GTA Online and Minecraft on PlayStation, there was a 19% reduction in gaming hours spent on GTA during April. This was one of the sharpest declines registered among all crossover titles. This might mean that although GTA V continues to draw a massive crowd, engagement depth can go up and down with what else is popular. It also implies that younger gamers, most of whom began their gaming journey with Minecraft or Fortnite, might be jumping in or out of GTA's universe depending on outside hype or holiday seasons. The Ampere report provides an interesting glimpse into the changing behavior of GTA Online's user base. As players increasingly divide time across platforms and properties, Rockstar's ongoing viability might not only rely on GTA VI, but also on how effectively GTA Online adapts to changing player interests. Also Read: 5 wild fan theories about GTA 6 that might actually be true
Metro
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Nintendo Switch 2 outsells Switch 1 launch by over 100% but fails to beat PS5
Only a couple of UK retailers held midnight launches (Credits: David Parry/PA Media Assignments) The Nintendo Switch 2 has already sold over 160,000 consoles in the UK and become Nintendo's fastest selling console ever. Although there's still no official sales figures for the Nintendo Switch 2 everything points towards it being a massive worldwide success, selling more units in its first day than any other console. That'd certainly be an impressive feat, but Nintendo itself has yet to substantiate these claims. Earlier today, though, additional sales data has been shared, and it at least gives an indication of how the Switch 2 has performed here in the UK. Although no exact figures have been given, it's said that the Switch 2 has had the best UK launch of any Nintendo console ever. Although given the company's history in this country, it's difficult to know exactly what that means. The data comes courtesy of market research firm NielsenIQ, which shared its findings with The Game Business, adding that the Switch 2 outperformed the Switch 1 by more than two to one. On top of that, it outperformed the Nintendo 3DS, which was the original record holder for the biggest Nintendo hardware launch in the UK. For the record, the Switch 1 managed 80,000 units in the UK at launch while the 3DS sold 113,000 units. So the implication is that the Switch 2 sold over 160,000 consoles. Expert, exclusive gaming analysis Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. The only Switch 2 figures we have so far are from Currys, which says it sold 30,000 pre-orders at its stores, which they seemed to be very happy with. PlayStation consoles have always been more popular in the UK (Sony) NielseinIQ adds that this only makes the Switch 2 the fourth best-selling console launch in the UK, trailing behind the Xbox Series X/S, the PlayStation 4, and especially the PlayStation 5. Coming out in the middle of lockdown, the PlayStation 5 was a huge deal in the UK, when it launched in 2020, and went on to become the country's best selling console in 2021. As The Game Business points out, the original Switch and the Wii had weaker launches in the UK than the PlayStation 3 and Xbox One. The UK has always been Nintendo's weakest international market, which can be traced all the way back to the original NES from the 1980s. Not only did the UK not receive the console until 1987 – four years after its initial Japanese launch and two years after the US – but it and its games were badly overpriced and little effort was made in converting it for PAL televisions. Nintendo didn't even have a proper UK headquarters at that time and it wasn't until the GameCube that they started taking the region seriously, with the Wii and DS being the first time that Nintendo's success in the UK mirrored that of the rest of the world. The good news for Nintendo is that things have been steadily improving since then and doubling the Switch 1's debut is quite a feat. In the run up to the Switch 2's release, some analysts predicted it would be the biggest console launch ever, although Nintendo is only aiming to sell slightly more than the original Switch managed in its launch period. This more conservative outlook can likely be chalked up to Nintendo opting to play things safe due to all the uncertainty caused by US president Donald Trump's tariffs. Plus, it looks better for them if they easily beat their goals. A lot of people queued up for the Switch 2's midnight launch in the UK (Credits: David Parry/PA Media Assignments) Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. Arrow MORE: Mario Kart World review – the final verdict on the Switch 2's biggest game Arrow MORE: Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour review – the dullest Nintendo game ever made Arrow MORE: New Splatoon game coming to Nintendo Switch 2 – plus massive Splatoon 3 update
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Don't Expect Many Switch 2 Reviews At Launch
The Switch 2 is likely to be one of the biggest console launches ever, but it might be hard to find actual hands-on reviews of the device when it first comes out. That's because Nintendo isn't sending out early units to press and content creators, according to a new report by The Game Business. It's a highly unusual headscratcher that has some third-party publishers flummoxed. 'The games press will not be receiving Nintendo Switch 2 consoles until just before it comes out,' writes The Game Business' Chris Dring (it's a great newsletter you should subscribe to). He reports that some in the media won't get their review units until launch day on June 5, with Nintendo blaming the delay on the need for a major day-one patch. The Switch 2 launches right before Summer Game Fest, a busy period for big game announcements and new trailers that could delay in-depth coverage of the new console even further. It's a major departure from how Nintendo handled the rollout of the original Switch back in 2017, when the company was still licking its wounds from the disastrous Wii U console generation. With the long-awaited The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild being available at launch, the Mario maker made sure outlets had access to the Switch more than a week in advance in order to both test the new hardware and complete the sprawling open-world RPG. Delaying hands-on access to the Switch 2 until the same time as the general public suggests the hardware is either coming in hot—a possibility bolstered by the apparent urgency of a day-one software patch—or Nintendo simply doesn't care about building pre-release hype with early Switch 2 reviews and all of the hands-on videos and social media buzz that flows from them. The console is already expected to sell over 15 million units in its first year, with shortages seemingly likely at launch and into the summer. Everyone knows what the Switch can do, and for the most part the Switch 2 is just a bigger, better version of that existing product. Most fans have probably already made up their minds one way or the other. Delaying Switch 2 reviews seems of a piece with Nintendo's evolving direct-to-consumer approach, beginning years ago with Nintendo Directs and culminating recently in a dedicated standalone news app for the new hardware. Though it also seems of a piece with a lot of ambient weirdness around the release of the Switch 2 that's detracted from otherwise positive assessments of the hardware at preview events. But that doesn't mean the review delays are good for everyone else. Insight into any major shortcomings or bugs that need to be ironed out ahead of launch could be the difference between someone paying hundreds of dollars over the $450 price tag to a scalper on eBay, or just waiting until more inventory is available closer to the 2025 holiday season. One PR rep at a third-party developer with a launch game for the Switch 2 told The Game Business that the 'lack of independent critical validation' now makes them wonder if they should have waited to release their game until a few weeks after the dust had settled around the new hardware. We'll know how it all shakes out in just a few weeks when Nintendo's next console generation kicks off in June. . For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
