Pre-orders account for over 80% of Japanese Nintendo Switch launch shipment
Research firm Media Create data suggests one in five units will be picked up when new console arrives
New data suggests Nintendo will have little trouble shifting Switch in its home reason of Japan thanks to the hefty number of pre-orders.
A weekly analysis from Media Create suggests that the number of consumers pre-ordering the forthcoming console now exceed 80% of the Japanese launch shipment, Dual Shockers reports. The site also notes that online pre-orders are sold out in all of the nation's major retailers.
While this stat may seem impressive, it's important to note that we are still unclear on how many units will be allocated to Japan. The planned global launch shipment is reported to be two million units, and it's a safe bet that a significant portion of this will be for Nintendo's home market.
Response to the Nintendo Switch has been mixed since the full unveiling earlier this month, largely due to its hefty price tag: 29,980 yen in Japan, $299.99 in the US and £279.99. The price would have been even higher had Nintendo decided to pack in launch title 1-2-Switch, according to Reggie Fils-Aime.
It could be argued that with just over a month to go, it's reasonable to expect pre-orders for a new Nintendo device to be a little higher but perhaps the cost of the Switch - combined with the relatively sparse launch line-up - has made consumers reluctant to invest ahead of release.
Nintendo Switch releases worldwide on March 3rd. While industry opinion is divided on how well it will perform at launch, DFC predicts 40m sales worldwide within the next four years.