Change vs. PS5 and Xbox: Nintendo gears up for the holidays with a new SKU and a price cut in Europe – talking point

Nintendo cannot be accused of being reactive to the Switch ahead of the fast approaching holiday season. At a time when sales and demand remain strong, the Big N has been lining up a steady stream of assorted games to keep the console on the general gaming audience’s agenda. There are major titles of their own like Metroid Dread and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl on the way, along with family-focused offerings like Mario Party Superstars and Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain. Throw in Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp and some intriguing third-party contributions, and there’s a lot to keep the system in the headlines.

Nintendo also made a move in Switch prices by lowering the cost of the standard model, but at present this is only in Europe. It’s apparently an adjustment to account for the upcoming OLED model, but also for imbalances caused by currency conversions, in which Europeans were comparably paying significantly more for hardware than North American consumers. Clearly, with that in mind, along with their plans for stock levels, the price cut makes sense – prices may remain locked in North America and Japan, but we will of course keep an eye out for updates.

Generally, with the OLED model on the way, Nintendo is set up with three offerings at different prices, all possibly targeting specific demographics and needs. The switch may take a long Far behind the latest Sony and Microsoft systems from a graphics and power perspective, but it has a huge library, plus pricing and availability on your side. With solid momentum and positive projections coming out of Nintendo, it looks like he’s intent on having another solid holiday season.

While people undoubtedly like virtual cage fights between consoles, we keep it civilized here (we’re all just players of different kinds, after all) and looking at where each major system is located before the holidays …

Nintendo Switch family

Switch Lite – $ 199 USD / £ 199.99

The Switch Lite, like the previous 2DS, serves as a rugged, portable option and the most affordable member of the Switch family. Its sales flourished in 2020 as the availability of the standard model became a problem, but although the lower-budget model has its fans, trends show that it is clearly a second choice when the original is on the shelves.

However, it will likely work well, especially with a special edition Pokémon which is a great gift option.

Change – $ 299USD / £ 259.99 / € 269.99 (after regional price cut)

There is a chance that the standard model will be the best-selling Switch model until 2022. It offers the full set of Switch features at a mid-range price that is likely to suit a wide range of gamers. It would not be surprising if some attractive packages and offers, aimed at the next Black Friday frenzy, further boost sales of this seasoned model.

If Nintendo can keep up the supply, this is likely to be another good winter for the system, especially considering the diverse range of first-hand software on the way over the next few months.

Change OLED model – $ 349USD / £ 309.99

Although there has been a lot of gnashing of teeth about what the OLED It is not, Nintendo knows very well what it offers with the system and its additional price of $ 50: it is the equivalent of the XL models in the DS / 3DS era, with a little more luxury and a bigger screen. In any range of technology, it is premium models like this that often change the fewest units but still attract enough eager consumers to enthusiastically contribute to profits. Although it is more expensive to produce than the base model, considering the age of the technology in the Switch, the profit margin of these models will undoubtedly be a strong point as well.

The sales figures will be interesting, but we suspect that the OLED model will have similar numbers to the Lite.

Sony PlayStation family

PlayStation 5 – $ 499USD / £ 499.99 (standard model) – $ 399USD / £ 399.99 (digital model)

A common thread with PS5 and its rival Series X | Yes, it will sell as many as Sony can produce. Sony will make every effort to produce stocks, betting on existing exclusives and major third-party efforts to maintain the convenience of the system. With some reports online that ‘reseller’ prices are going down (VGC)however, the offer may be starting to catch up.

PlayStation 5 will be a sales power, ultimately, especially if Sony can do enough.

Playstation 4 – $ 299 USD approx. For the standard model

It seems that the majority is moving on from PS4, unsurprisingly, as it has already sold more than 116 million units and led the last generation; your momentum has understandably diminished. You’ll still get some limited sales, especially if there are some temptingly priced end-of-build packages, but it seems like stocks aren’t replenished much in the US market, for example, leaving it largely in the hands of resellers. .

Sony wants gamers to buy a PS5, it just has trouble putting them on the shelves.

Microsoft Xbox Family

Xbox Series X | S – $ 499USD / £ 499.99 Series X – $ 299USD / £ 299.99 Series S

Microsoft’s challenge is the same as Sony’s: just build enough systems to meet demand. The reseller market remains active for Series X, suggesting that Game Pass’s aggressive expansion strategy, along with some genuine blockbusters for the holiday season, is paying off; It can also indicate ongoing problems in delivering substantial replenishments. It seems that Microsoft has been behind Sony in the manufacturing battle, but it will undoubtedly sell as many X Series consoles as it can hit stores.

Many may make it remain the problem. Meanwhile, the less expensive S Series is available more frequently and apparently not flying off the shelves, although Microsoft can expect a similar effect that the Switch Lite enjoyed last year, in which gamers desperate for improved versions of new games. they will “ conform. ” for the most economical model if the premium offer is exhausted.

Xbox One / X

However, surpassed by PS4 in the last generation by some distance, the Xbox One family of systems made its way to reasonable overall sales. As with the PS4 in today’s market, outside of some budgets and packages, older hardware is now largely overlooked, with stocks running low and resellers taking over in some territories.

How is Nintendo doing as we head into the 2021 holiday season?

Nintendo, as is often the case, is operating in a kind of “bubble”, with the hybrid nature of its hardware far removed from the major home console offerings from Microsoft and Sony. The Switch’s appeal remains high, apparently, with its unique library and family / multiplayer format still working in its favor.

The standard model, with its price cut in the EU (and possible Black Friday packages and deals in North America), remains the family’s likely workhorse in terms of sales. The Lite is still a good option for those who are not interested in television or looking for an affordable option as a second unit, while the OLED is there for the premium / enthusiast market.

In many respects, the in-store battles will be quite separate: On the one hand, Sony and Microsoft will battle for the high-end living room market, while Nintendo is targeting a wide range of gamers looking for a different experience. Nintendo also continually competes with other smaller entertainment devices like tablets, pushing its library of games and features to showcase its capabilities.

In the bigger picture, Nintendo is probably confident ahead of the holiday season, at least in terms of hitting its own goals. Multiple major releases that target a wide group of gamers, along with those hardware options and price points to suit different people, should get it done. That May Also get additional Christmas gift purchases if Microsoft and Sony continue to struggle to keep up with demand, as was the case a year ago, the PS5 and Xbox Series X are likely to continue to sell out rapidly.

Let us know in the polls below how you think Nintendo will fare in the coming months.