NES Classic

The NES Classic Outsold the Xbox One, PS4, and Switch

Because nostalgia runs deep.

By Andrew Moseman

AMAZON

The enthusiasm was palpable around the NES Classic when Nintendo put out the first run in 2016, and again when the company started selling the new-old console this summer. Now we have stats to back it up].


The NES Classic moved more units in June 2018 than did the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, or Nintendo Switch. This despite the fact that Nintendo's system was on sale for only the last few days of the month.

There are plenty of reasons why, of course. The NES Classic is a hotly awaited re-debut, whereas the other signature consoles have been on the market for a long time. Just as importantly, the Nintendo generally retails for $59, hundreds of dollars less than a prestige console (and about as much as one of their games). The Classic already comes preloaded with 30 games, including some of Nintendo's greatest hits. It's simple, too. There are no cartridges—just plug in the system, hook it to your TV via HDMI cable, and play the classics.

Even with those caveats, a 35-year-old gaming system topping the charts is remarkable proof of the power of nostalgia. The dramatic success of NES Classic will surely accelerate the wave of retro consoles. Nintendo was already planning to unveil a SNES Classic that would feature Super Nintendo greatest hits including Donkey Kong Country, Mega Man X, Super Mario Kart, Super Mario World, and more.

Soon you'll be able to game like it's, well, whatever year you want.

Via The Verge.