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The NES Classic is so popular it outsold the PS4, Xbox One, and Switch in June

The NES Classic is so popular it outsold the PS4, Xbox One, and Switch in June

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NES Classic Edition
Photo: Nintendo

The NES Classic returned to stores in June after a brief stint of sales back in 2016, and it has now topped US sales charts. NPD reports that the NES Classic was June’s highest unit-selling hardware platform in the US, beating the PlayStation 4, Nintendo’s Switch, and the Xbox One. The NES Classic managed to outsell these consoles despite only being on sale for a few days in late June. Nintendo’s SNES Classic was also the overall top unit selling hardware platform in the US in September when it first debuted in stores.

While the NES Classic is priced at $59 compared to more expensive current-generation consoles, it’s clearly still in demand 35 years after the original Nintendo Entertainment System debuted in 1983. The NES Classic comes loaded with 30 games including classics like Super Mario Bros., Metroid, Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, and Pac-Man. While you can’t insert vintage NES cartridges into it, the console supports game saves and connects to TVs via a HDMI cable.

Nintendo hasn’t revealed whether it now plans to introduce more miniature retro consoles. Obvious candidates would be classic versions of the N64 console or even the Game Boy. Interest has been strong for Nintendo’s recent hardware, with the company struggling to meet demand initially for the NES Classic, SNES Classic, and even the Switch. If the popularity of both the NES Classic and SNES Classic is anything to go by, a classic N64 or Game Boy would likely soar to the top of US hardware sales charts.