Nintendo Switch Poised To Break A Massive Console Sales Record

Nintendo has released its latest financial results, and it makes for some somber reading. While the report does outline some steep declines, it also shines a light on the still-surging user base of the Switch, and teases the potential for Nintendo to smash a massive sales record it has been chasing for nearly two decades.

Sales for Nintendo’s dedicated console business – which comprises Switch hardware sales, accessories, physical and digital software sales, and Nintendo Switch online revenue – decreased by 31.7% year-over-year. Drilling down into game sales, Nintendo cites a decline of 24.4% year-over-year. This isn’t really surprising, given that the aging Nintendo Switch is about to enter its 8th year of existence, which is practically an eternity for a console lifecycle.

Nintendo has even slightly downgraded its hardware sales expectations for its fiscal year ending March 2025, estimating it will sell 11 million consoles.

All of this makes sense, especially given the fact that the Switch is entering its 8th year; practically an eternity for a console. Adding to this is the hype behind the recently unveiled Switch 2, which is promised to launch sometime in 2025. Given the Switch 2’s anticipated leap in power and its ability to play original Switch games, it’s easy to understand why consumers might be hesitant to plunk down money for the Switch this deep in its lifecycle.

One decidedly positive highlight from the report is Nintendo’s estimate of its active user base by the end of December 2024. Going into its 8th year, there are still 129 million people playing on Switch consoles. That’s a number you might expect to start dipping at this point, but Nintendo continues to release a steady stream of first-party games (like Donkey Kong Returns HD and Mario Party Jamboree) to keep people engaged.

Nintendo Switch Sales: Chasing The DS And PlayStation 2

And now we get to overall hardware sales. To date, Nintendo has sold 150.86 million units across the Switch family. Looking back at that annual playing users stat, this means a whopping 86% of Switch owners are still using their console.

It also means the Switch is getting very close to becoming Nintendo’s all-time best-selling console. The Nintendo DS, which ranks as the second-best selling console of all time, topped out at 154 million units sold. With a strategic price cut and continued software support, Nintendo should absolutely hit that milestone.

(Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is still slated for an original Switch release in 2025, and rumored heavy hitters like a new 3D Mario game and a Legend of Zelda remake might be backwards compatible.)

The best-selling console of all time, though? That is Sony’s PlayStation 2, which enjoyed lifetime sales of more than 160 million. It seems unlikely Nintendo will surpass that to take that coveted crown, but it’s definitely not impossible.

Follow me on LinkedIn. Check out my website.