NES Classic Sells 1.5 Million Units; Nintendo Apologizes For And Explains Shortages

Nintendo announced this week that, despite widespread shortages, the NES Classic Edition console has reached 1.5 million sales across the globe. This was confirmed by Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima, who shared the figure and further insight during the company's latest earnings briefing.

Kimishima addressed the NES Classic Edition shortages, apologizing to consumers and retailers alike. The executive added that part of the reason why it's taking a long time to replenish stock is because "some parts require time to procure." Kimishima added that Nintendo is "working to increase production" to meet demand.

Additionally, he said the interest in the NES Classic Edition might be a good thing for the Nintendo Switch, which comes out in March. "We also see the nostalgic interest in these products as an opportunity to draw consumers' attention to our latest game system, Nintendo Switch," Kimishima said.

The $60 NES Classic launched in November and sold out almost immediately, in part because Nintendo underestimated the demand. The console comes with 30 games, including Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Mega Man 2, and Castlevania.

Check out GameSpot's NES Classic review to learn more about the system.