Latest news with #DavidParry
Metro
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Nintendo Switch 2 outsells Switch 1 launch by over 100% but fails to beat PS5
Only a couple of UK retailers held midnight launches (Credits: David Parry/PA Media Assignments) The Nintendo Switch 2 has already sold over 160,000 consoles in the UK and become Nintendo's fastest selling console ever. Although there's still no official sales figures for the Nintendo Switch 2 everything points towards it being a massive worldwide success, selling more units in its first day than any other console. That'd certainly be an impressive feat, but Nintendo itself has yet to substantiate these claims. Earlier today, though, additional sales data has been shared, and it at least gives an indication of how the Switch 2 has performed here in the UK. Although no exact figures have been given, it's said that the Switch 2 has had the best UK launch of any Nintendo console ever. Although given the company's history in this country, it's difficult to know exactly what that means. The data comes courtesy of market research firm NielsenIQ, which shared its findings with The Game Business, adding that the Switch 2 outperformed the Switch 1 by more than two to one. On top of that, it outperformed the Nintendo 3DS, which was the original record holder for the biggest Nintendo hardware launch in the UK. For the record, the Switch 1 managed 80,000 units in the UK at launch while the 3DS sold 113,000 units. So the implication is that the Switch 2 sold over 160,000 consoles. Expert, exclusive gaming analysis Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. The only Switch 2 figures we have so far are from Currys, which says it sold 30,000 pre-orders at its stores, which they seemed to be very happy with. PlayStation consoles have always been more popular in the UK (Sony) NielseinIQ adds that this only makes the Switch 2 the fourth best-selling console launch in the UK, trailing behind the Xbox Series X/S, the PlayStation 4, and especially the PlayStation 5. Coming out in the middle of lockdown, the PlayStation 5 was a huge deal in the UK, when it launched in 2020, and went on to become the country's best selling console in 2021. As The Game Business points out, the original Switch and the Wii had weaker launches in the UK than the PlayStation 3 and Xbox One. The UK has always been Nintendo's weakest international market, which can be traced all the way back to the original NES from the 1980s. Not only did the UK not receive the console until 1987 – four years after its initial Japanese launch and two years after the US – but it and its games were badly overpriced and little effort was made in converting it for PAL televisions. Nintendo didn't even have a proper UK headquarters at that time and it wasn't until the GameCube that they started taking the region seriously, with the Wii and DS being the first time that Nintendo's success in the UK mirrored that of the rest of the world. The good news for Nintendo is that things have been steadily improving since then and doubling the Switch 1's debut is quite a feat. In the run up to the Switch 2's release, some analysts predicted it would be the biggest console launch ever, although Nintendo is only aiming to sell slightly more than the original Switch managed in its launch period. This more conservative outlook can likely be chalked up to Nintendo opting to play things safe due to all the uncertainty caused by US president Donald Trump's tariffs. Plus, it looks better for them if they easily beat their goals. A lot of people queued up for the Switch 2's midnight launch in the UK (Credits: David Parry/PA Media Assignments) Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. Arrow MORE: Mario Kart World review – the final verdict on the Switch 2's biggest game Arrow MORE: Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour review – the dullest Nintendo game ever made Arrow MORE: New Splatoon game coming to Nintendo Switch 2 – plus massive Splatoon 3 update
South Wales Argus
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Gaming fans rush to buy new Nintendo Switch 2 before stock runs out
The console has been highly anticipated by gamers following the release of the original Switch more than eight years ago in March 2017. Dozens of people, some dressed as characters from the Mario games, queued outside Currys in Oxford Street, central London, which opened at midnight for shoppers to claim their console, which the retailer is selling for £395. Zac Young, from Kingston, was the first in the queue to get his hands on the device. Nintendo fans get to grips with the new Switch 2 device (David Parry/PA) It comes as Game cancelled pre-orders just days before release, while several other retailers sold out on launch day following the high demand for the product. Nintendo has reportedly upgraded its expectation of sales by the end of the financial year from 15 million consoles to 20 million. Fans in London hit the shops early on Thursday morning to be able to claim their console on release day. Ray Reyes, 36, a nurse from Lincoln, said: 'I tried to pre-order and it was impossible to actually buy one. 'It just wasn't available online at all. Most of the sites said we had to pop into the store to actually get one. 'I think it's to discourage scalping, where people buy one online and then sell it on for a much higher price of like £600 because there's so much demand.' Mr Reyes is visiting London to see Beyonce in concert with his boyfriend, Joseph Agra, 31, and the couple used the opportunity of being in the capital to buy the console. Mr Agra, who works for a bank in Lincoln, said: 'There's that feeling when you're buying the console on the day of release. It hits a bit different. 'We're going back to the hotel to play it now, I'm quite excited. 'It should be a better overall performance. Although the graphics won't be the same as on a proper console, it should be a massive improvement on the original Switch. 'I'm also excited to see what other developers can do with it now it's out.' Zac Young from Kingston was the first in the queue at Currys' Oxford Street store in London (David Parry/PA) Tony Gu, 25, a computer science student who lives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was another who purchased the console early. He said: 'I've spent almost 2,000 hours playing Splatoon on the original Switch, so I'm excited to buy the Switch 2. 'There was no stock online for pre-orders either in Saudi Arabia or the UK, so I've had to come here in person and buy it here. 'I bought Zelda, but I never played it on the original Switch as the performance was just terrible, so I hope it has improved. 'I also hope the graphics have gotten better. It's a bit frustrating because, in Japan, there's a Japanese-only version which can be as much as 70% cheaper. 'But given that I played Switch for thousands of hours I think it's worth it, but I still wish I didn't have to pay a lot.' Simon Hudson, 44, a software designer from Perth, Australia, who has lived in London for 15 years said he bought two to play with his husband. He said: 'I don't think it's hype bubble. I'm only picking it up today mainly because my husband's got a couple of games he's wanted to play that are coming out today, along with the release, like the new Mario Kart and Rune Factory. 'So he wants to be among the first ones on there. We've been playing that (Rune Factory) for 20 years, but the new version has come out alongside the Switch. So that's the main reason I'm here.' Others have taken to social media to air their frustration. Asked to post a comment about their favourite Nintendo character in order to enter a Currys giveaway for the console on X, one gamer replied: 'Dry Bowser as he is probably as rare as getting hold of a Switch 2 on release day.' Another fan who managed to get hold of their console said: 'My Switch 2 pre-order is arriving right now. I survived the cancellation apocalypse.'
Irish Examiner
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Gaming fans rush to buy new Nintendo Switch 2 before stock runs out
Gaming fans hit the shops early to ensure they could claim the new Nintendo Switch 2 before stock runs out. The console has been highly anticipated by gamers following the release of the original Switch more than eight years ago in March 2017. Dozens of people, some dressed as characters from the Mario games, queued outside Currys in Oxford Street, central London, which opened at midnight for shoppers to claim their console, which the retailer is selling for £395 (€469). Zac Young, from Kingston, was the first in the queue to get his hands on the device. Nintendo fans get to grips with the new Switch 2 device (David Parry/PA) It comes as Game cancelled pre-orders just days before release, while several other retailers sold out on launch day following the high demand for the product. Nintendo has reportedly upgraded its expectation of sales by the end of the financial year from 15 million consoles to 20 million. Fans in London hit the shops early on Thursday morning to be able to claim their console on release day. Ray Reyes, 36, a nurse from Lincoln, said: 'I tried to pre-order and it was impossible to actually buy one. 'It just wasn't available online at all. Most of the sites said we had to pop into the store to actually get one. 'I think it's to discourage scalping, where people buy one online and then sell it on for a much higher price of like £600 because there's so much demand.' Mr Reyes is visiting London to see Beyonce in concert with his boyfriend, Joseph Agra, 31, and the couple used the opportunity of being in the capital to buy the console. Mr Agra, who works for a bank in Lincoln, said: 'There's that feeling when you're buying the console on the day of release. It hits a bit different. 'We're going back to the hotel to play it now, I'm quite excited. 'It should be a better overall performance. Although the graphics won't be the same as on a proper console, it should be a massive improvement on the original Switch. 'I'm also excited to see what other developers can do with it now it's out.' Zac Young from Kingston was the first in the queue at Currys' Oxford Street store in London (David Parry/PA) Tony Gu, 25, a computer science student who lives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was another who purchased the console early. He said: 'I've spent almost 2,000 hours playing Splatoon on the original Switch, so I'm excited to buy the Switch 2. 'There was no stock online for pre-orders either in Saudi Arabia or the UK, so I've had to come here in person and buy it here. 'I bought Zelda, but I never played it on the original Switch as the performance was just terrible, so I hope it has improved. 'I also hope the graphics have gotten better. It's a bit frustrating because, in Japan, there's a Japanese-only version which can be as much as 70% cheaper. 'But given that I played Switch for thousands of hours I think it's worth it, but I still wish I didn't have to pay a lot.' Simon Hudson, 44, a software designer from Perth, Australia, who has lived in London for 15 years said he bought two to play with his husband. He said: 'I don't think it's hype bubble. I'm only picking it up today mainly because my husband's got a couple of games he's wanted to play that are coming out today, along with the release, like the new Mario Kart and Rune Factory. 'So he wants to be among the first ones on there. We've been playing that (Rune Factory) for 20 years, but the new version has come out alongside the Switch. So that's the main reason I'm here.' Others have taken to social media to air their frustration. Asked to post a comment about their favourite Nintendo character in order to enter a Currys giveaway for the console on X, one gamer replied: 'Dry Bowser as he is probably as rare as getting hold of a Switch 2 on release day.' Another fan who managed to get hold of their console said: 'My Switch 2 pre-order is arriving right now. I survived the cancellation apocalypse.'
Western Telegraph
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Western Telegraph
Gaming fans rush to buy new Nintendo Switch 2 before stock runs out
The console has been highly anticipated by gamers following the release of the original Switch more than eight years ago in March 2017. Dozens of people, some dressed as characters from the Mario games, queued outside Currys in Oxford Street, central London, which opened at midnight for shoppers to claim their console, which the retailer is selling for £395. Zac Young, from Kingston, was the first in the queue to get his hands on the device. Nintendo fans get to grips with the new Switch 2 device (David Parry/PA) It comes as Game cancelled pre-orders just days before release, while several other retailers sold out on launch day following the high demand for the product. Nintendo has reportedly upgraded its expectation of sales by the end of the financial year from 15 million consoles to 20 million. Fans in London hit the shops early on Thursday morning to be able to claim their console on release day. Ray Reyes, 36, a nurse from Lincoln, said: 'I tried to pre-order and it was impossible to actually buy one. 'It just wasn't available online at all. Most of the sites said we had to pop into the store to actually get one. 'I think it's to discourage scalping, where people buy one online and then sell it on for a much higher price of like £600 because there's so much demand.' Mr Reyes is visiting London to see Beyonce in concert with his boyfriend, Joseph Agra, 31, and the couple used the opportunity of being in the capital to buy the console. Mr Agra, who works for a bank in Lincoln, said: 'There's that feeling when you're buying the console on the day of release. It hits a bit different. 'We're going back to the hotel to play it now, I'm quite excited. 'It should be a better overall performance. Although the graphics won't be the same as on a proper console, it should be a massive improvement on the original Switch. 'I'm also excited to see what other developers can do with it now it's out.' Zac Young from Kingston was the first in the queue at Currys' Oxford Street store in London (David Parry/PA) Tony Gu, 25, a computer science student who lives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was another who purchased the console early. He said: 'I've spent almost 2,000 hours playing Splatoon on the original Switch, so I'm excited to buy the Switch 2. 'There was no stock online for pre-orders either in Saudi Arabia or the UK, so I've had to come here in person and buy it here. 'I bought Zelda, but I never played it on the original Switch as the performance was just terrible, so I hope it has improved. 'I also hope the graphics have gotten better. It's a bit frustrating because, in Japan, there's a Japanese-only version which can be as much as 70% cheaper. 'But given that I played Switch for thousands of hours I think it's worth it, but I still wish I didn't have to pay a lot.' Simon Hudson, 44, a software designer from Perth, Australia, who has lived in London for 15 years said he bought two to play with his husband. He said: 'I don't think it's hype bubble. I'm only picking it up today mainly because my husband's got a couple of games he's wanted to play that are coming out today, along with the release, like the new Mario Kart and Rune Factory. 'So he wants to be among the first ones on there. We've been playing that (Rune Factory) for 20 years, but the new version has come out alongside the Switch. So that's the main reason I'm here.' Others have taken to social media to air their frustration. Asked to post a comment about their favourite Nintendo character in order to enter a Currys giveaway for the console on X, one gamer replied: 'Dry Bowser as he is probably as rare as getting hold of a Switch 2 on release day.' Another fan who managed to get hold of their console said: 'My Switch 2 pre-order is arriving right now. I survived the cancellation apocalypse.'
Western Telegraph
28-05-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
High street bank branches are ‘thriving', Nationwide says
The building society has pledged to keep all of its nearly 700 branches open until at least the start of 2028. New data from the group revealed that nearly 200,000 more customers used its branches in the financial year to the end of March, compared with the prior year. Nationwide said about 200,000 more customers used its branches in 2024 (David Parry/PA) More Stories It comes a day before Nationwide is set to unveil its full-year financial results. Muir Mathieson, Nationwide's chief financial officer, told the PA news agency: 'The branches are thriving. 'We're seeing the number of people going into branches going up, and we think part of that (increase) is that there are fewer branches on the high street now that our competitors have closed theirs.' Nationwide has the second-largest branch network in the UK, behind Lloyds Banking Group. But Lloyds has been making sweeping cuts to its network – with the most recently-announced closures to 136 branches taking place over the next year. Others have been drastically trimming their network, such as Santander announcing in March it would be closing more than a fifth of its high street branches, bringing it down to 349 across Britain. The banks say they are adapting to meet the behaviours of their customers, who increasingly want to do banking on their phones or online and are decreasingly using their high street sites. But Nationwide suggested that UK consumers have been switching their bank to Nationwide so that they can make use of in-person services. Customers want face-to-face contact particularly if they have concerns about fraud, or if they want reassurance about a specific process or account, Mr Mathieson said. 'Interestingly, we get larger Isa balances when people open them in a branch than when they do it online,' he told PA, indicating that people feel more comfortable handling bigger sums of money in a branch. About 40% of Isas were opened in branches last year, and more than 30% of new current accounts, according to data from the building society. About 5.7 million customers visited a branch at least once during the year. Nationwide's branch promise extended to Virgin Money after buying the rival bank for £2.8 billion last year in the biggest banking deal since the financial crisis. When it bought the lender, it paused Virgin's plans to close some of its branches and brought it into the group's branch promise. It has also been working to improve the bank's customer service systems since merging, after chief executive Debbie Crosbie said there were 'challenges' to overcome.
