Nintendo Switch has reached a historic milestone, surpassing 150 million units sold worldwide as of December 31, 2024. Despite slowing sales and the impending release of Switch 2, Nintendo's hybrid console remains a formidable player in the video game market, gradually closing the gap on PlayStation 2, which still holds the title of the best-selling console of all time.

Switch Closes the Gap on PS2's Global Record

Although the Sony PlayStation 2 remains the leader with 160 million units sold, the Nintendo Switch lags by only 10 million. According to the company's latest financial reports, this figure includes sales of the standard Switch model, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED. The latter has been the most popular among buyers since 2023.

However, despite this progress, Nintendo reported that console sales dropped by 30.6% compared to the previous year. In the last quarter, 9.54 million devices were sold, and the company's projected annual sales were reduced from 12.5 million to 11 million units by the end of the fiscal year in March.

Nintendo Switch – The Most Popular Console in the USA

According to video game industry analyst Mat Piscatella from Circana, the Nintendo Switch has officially surpassed the PlayStation 2 in total sales in the USA. While the PS2 sold 53 million times in the American market, the Switch's sales have exceeded this mark, making it the most successful home console in the country. However, the absolute historical record holder in the USA remains the Nintendo DS, which sold 57 million units.

Nintendo Switch 2: The Future of the Console

Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to go on sale later this year, making further sales growth of the original Switch unlikely. With the release of the new model, Nintendo will focus efforts on the next-generation console, which is rumored to retain the hybrid design and feature an expanded 8-inch display and improved Joy-Con controllers.

Analysts predict that following the official announcement of Switch 2 at the Nintendo Direct presentation on April 2, demand for the first generation will significantly decrease. Meanwhile, if Nintendo decides to reduce the price of the first Switch, which it has not done since its release in 2017 at $299—this could help it surpass the PS2's record of 160 million sales.

The Legacy of Nintendo Switch's Success

Regardless of whether the Switch can surpass the PlayStation 2 in total sales, it has already become one of the most successful consoles in history. It currently ranks third globally, behind only the PS2 and Nintendo DS (154 million units sold).

Nintendo Switch has also shown phenomenal results in the video game market: over 1.35 billion copies of games have been sold over the platform's lifespan. The most successful among them are:

• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 67.35 million copies
• Animal Crossing: New Horizons – 47.44 million
• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – 35.88 million
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – 32.62 million