Nintendo Switch is the best-selling Nintendo console of all time
The Nintendo Switch has surpassed the Nintendo DS as Nintendo's best-selling console. In the all-time console ranking, this puts it in 2nd place.
(Image: Evgeniy pavlovski/Shutterstock.com)
The Nintendo Switch is the best-selling console Nintendo has ever released. This is according to the latest financial report from the Japanese gaming company. Thanks to 1.36 million new units sold in the past Christmas quarter ending December 31, 2025, the Switch now has sales figures of 155.37 million – more than the 154 million sold by Nintendo's handheld DS, released in 2004.
Because the Switch is still being sold, unlike the DS, it was only a matter of time before it overtook the handheld. In the cross-manufacturer console ranking, the Switch is now in 2nd place. Only the PlayStation 2 has sold more units. Manufacturer Sony states the PS2's sales figures as “more than 160 million.” A precise comparison could therefore be difficult if the Switch manages to reach the 160 million mark.
Switch 1 is running out of steam
(Image:Â Nintendo)
This will not be easy anyway: While Nintendo is making no moves to discontinue the Switch, the Switch 2, available since last summer, is selling significantly better than its predecessor: In the nine months in which the Switch 1 sold 1.36 million units, the Switch 2 sold 7 million units. It now has a total of 17.37 million units sold, as can be seen from the quarterly report (PDF).
The comparison to the previous year's quarter, when the Switch 2 was not yet available, shows how the sales of the Switch 1 are slowing down: In the quarter ending in 2024, the Switch 1 still sold 4.8 million units. It is therefore becoming apparent that the first Nintendo Switch is slowly running out of breath – but there might still be enough for a few million more units sold.
Game sales stronger on Switch 1
Even though Nintendo continues to support the Switch, there are first signs that independent game developers are leaving the console behind. Many current titles are now only released on the Switch 2, which has significantly more powerful hardware than the Switch 1. EA has even decided to discontinue its online shooter “Apex Legends” on the Switch.
(Image:Â Nintendo)
Nevertheless, Nintendo's quarterly figures show that developers should continue to bring their titles to the first Switch as long as it is technically possible: due to the large user base, game sales on the Switch 1 still generate significantly more revenue than on its successor. In the past quarter, Nintendo sold 47 million games for the Switch. For the Switch 2, only 17 million titles were sold in the same period.
(dahe)
