DS \ Switch / PS2
Image: Nintendo Life

In case you missed it, the Nintendo Switch has now sold over 129 million units as of June 30th, 2023. That's frankly astonishing and it puts the console ever closer to reaching the lifetime sales of not only the Nintendo DS but Sony's PlayStation 2.

Can it really reach those lofty milestones, though? Let's remind ourselves of the figures first. The DS is sitting at 154.02 million units, while the PlayStation 2 is at 155 million, which means the Switch will need to sell around 26 million units in order to become the highest-selling console of all time.

Given that the Switch is in the seventh year of its lifespan with chatter around a successor growing (again) with each passing day, another 25 million hardware unit sales seems like somewhat of a pipe dream at the moment. But while it will certainly be difficult, we reckon it's doable... just. Although it seems very unlikely to hit that milestone before Nintendo's next console arrives on the scene.

Since the previous update in May '23, the Switch sold a further 3.91 million units, bringing sales up from 125.62 million to the current figure of 129.52 million. Realistically, if the Switch is to surpass the PS2 in the near term, it will need to maintain a momentum of around 4 million units sold per quarter over the course of the next 18-24 months.

Maintaining such momentum is going to be an exceptionally tough task, particularly when you consider that Nintendo itself doesn't really have anything of any note launching for the system until Detective Pikachu Returns and Super Mario Bros. Wonder in October '23. Mario is a heavy hitter, of course, but with so many Switches already out there, we wonder (ha!) if the new 2D platformer will have the same impressive effect on hardware sales as Tears of the Kingdom. The Holiday period for 2023 is going to prove crucial and Nintendo will want to really maximise its sales with console bundles and potential discounts for Black Friday and Boxing Day.

Speaking of discounts, though, will Nintendo introduce a permanent discount for the Switch? That would certainly boost the number of units sold, but we're not so sure. The company will be keen to maintain profit margins and isn't likely to reduce them for the sake of chasing a record that isn't particularly important to its bottom line. At the very least, we can't see a discount happening until the release of the eventual successor (which, if rumours are to be believed, may launch in the second half of 2024). This, coupled with some strong bundle offers and the existence of a brand new 2D Mario title, may be just what the Switch needs to claw its way to towards the sales records of the DS and PS2.

At the end of the day, does it really matter? Of course not. Switch is an excellent, wildly successful console and it makes zero difference if the system reaches this sales milestone or not. Is it fun to discuss? Absolutely! Let us know in the polls below if you think Switch has a hope of hitting 155 million sales before — or after, even — its successor arrives.

Will the Switch's lifetime sales surpass the DS and PS2? (4,084 votes)

  1. Yes, easily!8%
  2. Yes, but not before the next Nintendo console launches23%
  3. Possibly, with some aggressive bundles and discounts37%
  4. I honestly couldn't say6%
  5. I'm doubtful18%
  6. No way, not this late in the game!7%

Do you think the Switch will get a permanent price drop at some point? (3,267 votes)

  1. Yes, sooner rather than later8%
  2. Eventually, maybe in the new year23%
  3. Not until 'Switch 2' arrives, at least51%
  4. I'm not confident11%
  5. Not a chance!7%

What do you think the final sales figure for the Nintendo Switch will be? What will Nintendo need to do to keep the momentum up? Is it at all possible we'll end up with a Game Boy / Game Boy Color-style cross-platform 'family' grouping, with the next console adding to Switch's overall sales total?...

Now there's a thought. Let us know in the comments below.