One of the things that has helped the Nintendo Switch do so well, despite history saying it would do the opposite, is bringing ports from its previous console, the Wii U, into the mix. It started off simply, with the arrival of games like Shovel Knight and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but then it went to Pokken Tournament, we’re getting Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, Hyrule Warriors, and then in February, we got the bundled release of Bayonetta 1&2. And apparently, it’s done well.
To be fair, when Bayonetta 2 (with the original bundled in) made its way to the Wii U, it was critically praised, and got many Game of the Year nominations. Yet, when it came to sales, it didn’t do that hot. So, with the third entry in the series being exclusive to the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo and Platinum brought the first two games to the system as well. And then, during their financial briefing yesterday, they revealed how the two compared sales-wise:
As you can see, the Wii U version (the chart includes both physical and digital sales) only got around 300,000 on the Wii U in its lifetime. In contrast, the Nintendo Switch version is nearing 400,000 and it’s been out only two months (the chart calculates until March 31st 2018). That’s pretty good for a port of an older title.
This could lead to big sales once Bayonetta 3 arrives sometime in the future. And what’s more, once the game gets promoted more, as we’ve only had a “reveal” trailer, it’s very possible the Switch bundle will go up in sales even more, as more people will want to catch up before heading into the third title.
This also bodes well for Platinum Game’s other title Wonderful 101, who developer Hideki Kamiya noted he wanted to port to the Nintendo Switch. It might just happen now.
