Post
Putting your PC game on Switch is basically printing money, if you can navigate the certification gauntlet.
Porting to console means adapting a PC game to run on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, or Xbox. For indie developers, the Nintendo Switch has been particularly lucrative -- its portable nature and indie-friendly audience make it a gold mine for 2D games, roguelites, and cozy titles. But porting is not trivial. Each platform has certification requirements, performance targets, and submission processes. The Switch's hardware is significantly weaker than modern PCs, requiring optimization work. Controllers need to feel as good as keyboard-and-mouse. Many devs hire porting studios like BlitWorks or Abstraction Games rather than doing it in-house. The investment usually pays off -- console players often buy games at higher price points and with less price sensitivity than Steam shoppers.
Example
Hollow Knight sold well on PC but exploded on Nintendo Switch, where its Metroidvania design was a perfect fit for portable play. The Switch version became a significant portion of total sales and introduced the game to an entirely new audience that does not primarily game on PC.
Why it matters
Console ports represent one of the best ways for indie developers to multiply revenue from an existing game. The development cost is a fraction of the original game, and each platform opens access to millions of players who may never shop on Steam.
Related concepts