The NES Classic Edition was announced last summer and proved to be a ver popular item when it was released during the holiday season, selling out within minutes and not being replenished for nearly a month. During a recent earnings report, Nintendo disclosed that it sold 1.5 million units globally.
It comes as no surprise that the NES Classic Edition was a hot seller and even the company was surprised by the fervor there was for the retro console. Nintendo even openly apologized for the lack of stock during the holiday season, chalking it up to a parts issue, but that it is working to increase the production volume. As we head into February, the retro console can not be found at any of its retail partners in the United States.
"In November last year, we brought back the nostalgic Famicom and NES home consoles in palmsized versions and shipped the entire quantity of Nintendo Classic Mini Family Computer units we initially prepared for each market. We apologize to our consumers and retail partners for the inconvenience caused by product shortages. Some parts require time to procure, but we are working to increase production. We also see the nostalgic interest in these products as an opportunity to draw consumers’ attention to our latest game system, Nintendo Switch."
Nintendo is prepping its next console, the Switch for release on March 3. The console will usher in a new age for Nintendo, which is also prepping to launch a new online platform alongside the console. Hopefully, the Switch won"t endure the same fate as the NES Classic Edition upon release as the firm has prepared 2 million units for the world in its first month. Pre-orders for the unit have already sold out, forecasting that there will be heavy demand for the unit upon release day.