Nintendo Switch Outsells PlayStation’s Most Successful Console

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As a lifelong gamer who has witnessed the evolution of consoles since the days of Pong, I must say that the Nintendo Switch‘s achievement of surpassing the PlayStation 2 in lifetime sales within the U.S. market is nothing short of remarkable. It’s like watching Babe Ruth break Hank Aaron’s home run record all over again!

Story Highlights

  • The Nintendo Switch has sold over 46 million units in lifetime sales in the U.S.
  • This milestone makes it the second-best-selling console in the U.S. market, beating the PlayStation 2.
  • However, the PlayStation 2 has still sold more units worldwide.

In a recent BlueSky post, Mat Piscatella, an industry reporter, confirms that the Nintendo Switch has surpassed the PlayStation 2, Sony’s most profitable console thus far, in total U.S. sales. By November 2024, the Switch had sold approximately 46 million units, making it the second-best-selling console in the American market.

In another post, Mat revisits this topic and shares that in the U.S., only the Nintendo Switch has greater lifetime sales than the Nintendo DS, which reached approximately 58 million units. It’s important to mention though, on a global scale, the PlayStation 2 outperforms both of these Nintendo consoles with nearly 160 million units sold worldwide.

The Switch Continues To Dominate The Western Market

Regardless of its aging hardware, the Switch has achieved a significant milestone for both itself and Nintendo. While having a system designed for top-tier PC games or a more recent console can provide a smoother gaming experience, Nintendo focuses on delivering enjoyable first-party games, and this approach is evidently successful. This year, the Switch even ranked as the second most popular console, just behind the PlayStation 5.

As a dedicated Nintendo fan, I can share that Nintendo itself has clarified they don’t foresee launching the Switch 2 before March 2025. That means for now, fellow gamers and I will continue to savor the unique gaming experiences that only the original Switch can offer. Some enthusiasts even speculate that the Switch’s success may be due to the relatively weaker competition in the market at the time compared to the iconic PlayStation 2.

In simple terms, Nintendo dominates the portable gaming market (with the exception of the Steam Deck), and since the Switch is eight years old without an immediate successor, consumers are essentially forced to purchase it to participate in that gaming realm. The Switch’s hardware specifications are often criticized as being underwhelming, leading many gamers to choose a high-performance PC or premium console for superior frame rates and graphical quality instead.

Regardless, the figures clearly attest to this accomplishment, and it might just be sufficient to persuade Nintendo to develop another revolutionary console. Should that not be the case, their extensive game catalog will continue to thrive; they’ve sustained the company for quite some time now, leaving fans eagerly anticipating more captivating experiences from Nintendo in the near future.

The Nintendo Switch is a portable video game system that hit the market on March 13, 2017, and can be purchased for $299.99 from numerous electronic retailers or directly from Nintendo’s official site.

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2024-12-23 16:42