How Nintendo Switch became company's best-selling console in history

With over 155 million units sold, Nintendo's Switch has surpassed the Nintendo DS to become the company's best-selling console to date. In terms of total gaming console sales, the device, which debuted in 2017 and saw a notable spike in sales during the pandemic, is currently ranked second only to Sony's PlayStation 2. After its release in 2000, the PlayStation 2 sold over 160 million units.

Nintendo announced the milestone in its latest financial report, though its shares fell 11% as investors expressed concerns about software sales and memory chip prices. The Switch 2, released in June 2025, has sold 17 million units as of year-end. Nintendo described this performance as a "good start" for the sequel device.

How Nintendo Switch’s games helped the console’s growth

According to a BBC report, industry expert Christopher Dring said there were “very low expectations" for the original Switch when it launched, but that its success could be explained by a strong roster of games from Nintendo's established franchises.

"Mario, Zelda, Pokemon and Mario Kart have all had their most successful games released during the Switch 1 era. Even games like Luigi's Mansion and Mario Party have sold tens of millions,” he said.

Dring added that the pandemic also had an impact, with lockdowns seeing sales rise as people looked for things to do when stuck at home.

Another gaming expert, Rachel Watts, said, “Everyone I knew had a Nintendo Switch. Nintendo's roster includes games geared towards younger audiences, and, as a handheld console, it made the Switch incredibly popular.”

However, the success of the Switch has led some to question whether its successor, Nintendo Switch 2, can replicate the formula.

At a recent post-results briefing, Bloomberg News reported Nintendo boss Shuntaro Furukawa said higher memory chip prices could weigh on profits.

The cost of many electronic devices could increase in 2026 because the price of RAM, once an affordable computer component, has increased considerably.

Other elements, such as US tariffs and "the current economic situation in many of Nintendo's major markets," could mean the second Switch never quite reaches the performance of its predecessor, Video Games Chronicle noted.

"While Switch 2's success is all but guaranteed, Nintendo might have to settle for it 'only' selling a lot, rather than it selling more than any other Nintendo device before it," the publication added.

GN Awards 2025: Vote for your favorite Gadgets