The impact of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on Nintendo's Switch sales


Nintendo Switch sales are booming, all thanks to the wildly popular video game, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. This game not only ranked as the highest-selling game in May but also caused a surge in the sales of Nintendo's gaming hardware. According to consumer data from Circana, Nintendo Switch was the best-selling platform in both unit and dollar sales in May 2023. Interestingly, this spike in sales is the highest it has ever been in this console cycle, surpassing even the pandemic period when the world was in lockdown. While the game has not released any official digital sales data, it is currently ranked as the second best-selling game of the year. Industry-wide, hardware sales spiked 56% in May alone, with the Switch and PlayStation 5 dominating the charts. In light of the boost in hardware sales, analysts predict that Nintendo might reduce the price of the Switch later in the year to keep up with the surging momentum.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom drives the fastest-selling records for Nintendo's Switch


The launch of the long-awaited video game, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, has resulted in a significant surge in the sales of Nintendo's Switch console - besting the high sales figures recorded during the pandemic's lockdown period. According to consumer data from Circana, not only was "Tears of the Kingdom" the best-selling video game in May, but it also caused a significant boost in the sales of Nintendo's hardware, with the Switch experiencing its highest-ever sales figures in its current console cycle. Hardware sales industry-wide increased by 56% in May, with the Switch and PlayStation 5 taking the lead.

The game's success in driving sales is good news for Nintendo, which has been counting on this release to breathe new life into its aging hardware, helping to reinvigorate sales that have stagnated in recent times. While new price cuts or other promotional strategies could further boost sales of the Nintendo Switch, the surge in sales has created renewed optimism around the company's ability to maintain its current level of momentum.

While reports suggest that The Legend of Zelda ranks as the second-best selling game of 2023 in Circana's rankings, it's worth noting that the actual sales figures are likely higher, given that Nintendo does not release official data regarding digital game sales. Nonetheless, with 10 million copies of TEars of the Kingdom sold globally in just three days of release, there's no denying the success of the game and its impact on Nintendo's bottom line. Nintendo has long relied on big titles to drive hardware sales upwards, and with the continued popularity of the Switch, it's clear that their strategy continues to be a success. The release of future hit games will undoubtedly ensure a sustained pattern of growth for Nintendo's Switch and position them well for the future.


The popularity of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has undoubtedly resulted in a significant surge in Nintendo Switch sales. This comes as good news for Nintendo, which has been relying on major game releases to drive sales growth for its hardware. Despite not releasing any official digital sales data, the game's success has propelled it to become the second-best selling game of the year by Circana's rankings, with over 10 million copies sold globally in just three days of release.

With reports suggesting that the company might reduce the price of Nintendo Switch later in the year to keep up with surging momentum, it's clear that the company is committed to delivering value to their customers while ensuring sustained growth for their brand. Nintendo's strategy of relying on games to drive hardware sales looks set to be a success yet again, with games like TEars of the Kingdom contributing to the continued popularity of the Switch console. With analysts remaining buoyant about potential boosts to the console's sales in the future, Nintendo looks set to ride the momentum for growth in the coming years. In conclusion, the Legend of Zelda franchise has been vital for Nintendo and continues to help reinvigorate sales as well as grow the company's market position.