Nintendo Labo Isn't Selling as Well as Company Hoped

When Nintendo Labo was announced, it was quickly dismissed as a gimmicky for children. One it actually released, critics couldn't stop raving about how surprisingly enjoyable the product actually was. Despite this hype, the Labo still hasn't sold well. Or to be more specific, it hasn't sold as well as Nintendo intended.

The Labo had a fairly strong launch week. The Variety Kit sold 90,410 units, while the Robot Kit sold 28,629. Good numbers, but it's not what the game company had planned. According to reports, only 30 percent of the Labo's initial shipment sold. In regards to a first-party Nintendo title, this is shockingly low. This is the industry equivalent of inviting 100 people to your birthday party, and only 30 of them showing up.

It appears that Nintendo expected many more Labo to sell than did. It's also of note that Switch sales continue to gradually decline. This means that the Labo didn't actually help drive up sales for the console.

We're entering the golden week, however. This week, starting today (April 29) and lasting until May 5, is a series of consecutive holidays that mark the beginning of the summer holiday season. Higher sales are common during this time. Perhaps we will see better numbers relating to both the Labo and the Switch in these coming weeks.

Given the educational and child-oriented nature of the game, we may also see a spike in sales once schools have let out for the year.

If you're thinking about getting the Labo but haven't yet, you can still find it on Amazon as either a Variety Kit or Robot Kit. Don't worry, there are plenty still in stock.