The Nintendo Switch Just Turned Five--How Has It Fared So Far?

The Nintendo Switch is now five years old. How fast time flies, eh? Upon its initial release in 2017, it was billed as among the few handheld gaming consoles with immense potential, and potentially one of the most powerful of its kind ever made. 

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Nintendo Switch console

DotESports reports on how fans are looking back at the now iconic handheld's five-year stint, and what its future holds for it. It has experienced a lot of changes during the last five years, but one thing stayed the same: the popularity of the hardware and its exclusive games overall. 

Perennial Bestseller 

Recently, Nintendo's handheld has reached a milestone very few other consoles have achieved: 103.54 million units sold, as per VentureBeat. This number has already put it as the gaming giant's best-selling console ever, surpassing the Wii's 101.63 million units. 

But not a lot of people can comprehend just how amazing this feat is. Here's some context. Sony's PlayStation 2, which is the best-selling game system of all time, has sold 155 million units all over the world. The PS2 reached that milestone on March 31st, 2012, a full twelve years after it first launched in Japan on March 4th, 2000. 

For the Nintendo Switch to surpass 100 million units sold in just five years of existence, compared to the PS2's twelve years, is nothing short of astounding. What's even more impressive is that Nintendo recently mentioned that the Switch is still at the midpoint of its life cycle. Who knows what the next five or so years will bring? Another 100 million units sold? 

(Photo : Tyler Lagalo from Unsplash)

Well, whatever that milestone is, there's a good chance that the Switch will reach it. If the sales trend continues, then Nintendo's handheld could well be on its way to becoming history's best-selling game system EVER-potentially taking over the iconic PS2's throne in far less time than expected. 

Read Also: Nintendo Switch: How to Game Share and its Pros and Cons

Hardware And Software Improvements 

Nintendo might have dropped the ball a bit with the reveal of the Switch OLED, but there's no denying that the base Switch is still receiving much-needed updates five years on. As such, there's still a lot of great things to look forward to for the console's hardware and software, even if the rumored Switch Pro never materialized. 

(Photo : Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)
The logo of Nintendo Co.'s Switch video game console is displayed in the Capcom Co. booth during the Tokyo Game Show 2017 at Makuhari Messe on September 21, 2017 in Chiba, Japan. The annual game show, which features games from 345 exhibitors for various platforms from game consoles to mobile phones, takes place September 21-24 and will feature eSports.

Here's one great rumor: the upcoming "Nintendo Switch Sports," billed as the "spiritual successor" to the massively popular "Wii Sports," will likely use AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR). For the unaware, FSR is a way for games to get smoother frame rates regardless of hardware power, which could pave the way for better gaming experiences on the handheld moving forward. 

Granted, AMD FSR has only been rumored for "Switch Sports." But one thing about it that makes this rumor exciting is its nature: it is an open-source software. What this means is that developers can easily implement the tech into their games to make them run smoother on all types of hardware. This could even include future games on the Switch. 

Bringing The Best Of Both Worlds 

When the Switch launched (specifically the base model), it brought together two worlds at once: handheld and couch gaming. With its detachable Joy-Con controllers and Dock, you have the choice to play it fully handheld or connect it to your big living room TV and play it like a normal gaming console. 

(Photo : Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Nintendo of America, A guest enjoys playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the groundbreaking new Nintendo Switch at a special preview event in New York on Jan. 13, 2017. Launching in March 3, 2017, Nintendo Switch combines the power of a home console with the mobility of a handheld. It's a new era in gaming that delivers entirely new ways to play wherever and whenever people want.

No other gaming handheld has done this so far (except perhaps the Steam Deck, but it does things differently). But while other devices like the NVIDIA Shield have explored this tech before the Switch, they were NOT as portable as Nintendo's handheld was-not even close. 

It can be safe to say that Nintendo ran with this tech and made it mainstream. Now, smartphones can be cast onto TVs so you can see what you're doing on a much bigger screen (via CNET). While the Switch was not the first to do it, it certainly helped proliferate the adoption of the tech. 

Related Article: 5 Best Nintendo Switch Games for a Chill, Relaxing Experience

This article is owned by Tech Times 

Written by RJ Pierce