Anyone who thinks that eight years isn’t “really a long time” really needs to reevaluate how they look at life in general. A LOT can happen in eight years, and in just the gaming industry alone, a revolution happened that is still sending ripple effects into the present day. On March 3rd, 2017, the Nintendo Switch launched, and many thought that this would be the “last ride” of The Big N before it became a “software-only company.” However, it not only thrived, it delivered some of the greatest gaming experiences ever, and companies like SEGA tried to get lots of titles on it to bank off its success.
However, in the eyes of Shuji Utsumi, the CEO of SEGA America and SEGA Europe, he didn’t feel that the system would do that well at all. He chatted with The Game Business and admitted the following:
“Since I was a member of the PlayStation launch team, I have a big attachment to the console business. And Nintendo has been playing an amazing role… Jesus, they made a great contribution to this area. I didn’t expect Switch 1 to be that successful. Nobody did.”
He’s not wrong; the Nintendo Switch shocked everyone with how fun it was in its handheld stylings and the great games that would follow post-launch. It sold over 150 million units and over a billion pieces of software. Fast forward to now, and the Switch 2 had the biggest launch in gaming industry history, and many are eagerly awaiting the arrival of its next exclusive titles.
Sometimes, the best things ever just sneak up on you.
