@Slowdive I hate the Daily Express because they did it so much in 2020, saying "Direct this, Direct that," when we ultimately got nothing. Rumours for them are enough to justify another clickbaity article.
It's not difficult to assume it will. Especially while the Switch continues to sell record numbers. Including a streak of being the best selling console on the NPD chart for two years straight, until the PS5 ended said streak. And if the Switch is only halfway through its lifecycle (according to Nintendo), never mind Nintendo possibly extending that lifecycle with a mid-gen refresh, yeah...the Switch will be the all-time best selling console gaming platform ever in just a few more years.
It has the real potential to be console gaming's first platform to sell 200m+ units if Nintendo doesn't decide to pivot away from the Switch's hybrid design. But who knows, we understand "Nintendo being Nintendo", right? They might to decide to dump the hybrid design in a few years regardless of how well the Switch is currently doing.
@Slowdive@Magician Switch becoming the highest/best selling hardware of all time? for this to happen Switch would need to have a 8/10 year lifecycle, we are already on the half of it lifecycle, only 2/3 years for it sucessor to release, not going to happen.
@Slowdive@Magician Switch becoming the highest/best selling hardware of all time? for this to happen Switch would need to have a 8/10 year lifecycle, we are already on the half of it lifecycle, only 2/3 years for it sucessor to release, not going to happen.
8 years? Probably. But not 10. And 8 years would not be unexpected- in fact, it’s the most likely outcome.
Even 3DS was supported for 8 years, with a good 7 years before Switch released. And Nintendo said they want to extend the lifespan. They’ll for sure go 7. 100% confident of that. 8 years is probably a 65% chance, I’d estimate.
After 4 years on the market, from Mar 2017 to Mar 2021, Switch sold 84.5 million units. Last FY they did over 28 million alone- and this FY they’re projecting 25 million. Let’s assume they do 25.5 million to land at 110 million sold after 5 full years on the market. Ok.
At this point, IF they only give Switch 7 years, it would need to average another 22.5 million per year for the final two years. That could be 23-22, or that could be 25-20. A tall order, given sales will likely start dropping after the 5th year, but it’s possible, even in 7 years.
If they give Switch 8 years, it’s all but certain. They’d only need to average 15 million per year for the final 3 years. If they do another 25 as projected, coming off that momentum with a new revision to boot, they’d almost certainly be able to push 20 for FY6. Which means, they’d only need another 25 million in the final two years. So 15-10 to wrap it up, and break the record.
At worst, we’re looking at the 3rd best selling console of all time, though it will at least land within 10 mil of the DS/PS2. It would be close. At best, I think it’ll barely scrape by with 160 mil sold to break the record.
Psalms 22:16 (1,000 yrs before Christ)
They pierced My hands and feet
Isaiah 53:5 (700 yrs before Christ)
He was pierced for our transgressions
Zachariah 12:10 (500 yrs before Christ)
They will look on Me whom they pierced
@Giancarlothomaz Keep in mind that the PS2 didn't become the all-time best selling home console (155m) over the span of your typical console lifecycle, which is seven years on average. Sony didn't discontinue PS2 until 2013, it was still selling well even up until then. Or are you suggesting Nintendo will never lower the price of the Switch or Switch Lite at any point in time? Come on now, be reasonable, the Switch will become the all-time best selling home eventually.
Don't blink, you'll miss it.
Switch Physical Collection - 1,536 games (as of December 14th, 2025)
Switch 2 Physical Collection - 4 games (as of December 8th, 2025)
@Magician as ps2 was a case on its own as you mention and if you see sales of 3ds for instance (which fell of a cliff after Pokémon on Switch) it is not certain that will surpass the 150M+ but at minimum it will get close to that number for sure.
I still don't get how Nintendo is expecting to sell 25M+ this fiscal year with the components short supply and in comparison with lockdown last year though. The way I see it not even a pro model will boost to those numbers on a 5th year console.
@CactusMan The Gameboy Pocket was more like the DS Lite, a revision super early in the system's lifespan to alleviate hardware issues on the base model.
Plus... We already got the Switch's budget revision, the Switch Lite.
@Balta666 Maybe Nvidia prioritized components towards new Switch revision instead of their other products? Switch gave Nvidia a massive boost so it would be in Nvidia's interest to keep the Switch a very popular system such that it may be worth for example having a larger drought for PC GPUs.
@Magician and @JaxonH given the Switch momentum don't seen to be slowing down, i can see Switch at the end of it lifecycle reaching DS/PS2 level sales, become the highest/best selling hardware of all time or close to it.
@Grumblevolcano it may be but bear in mind those components in short stock are not only used by NVIDIA. For instance I work directly with Bosch group and they had to stop their own production this month because of lack of supply
@Slowdive maybe I will be surprised in one year time but I don't see it as the numbers for this year were inflated by WFH situation on top of last gen competition coming to an end. I expect the system to keep selling well but not that much. I would bet on something around the 20M+ but not reaching the 25M. But maybe they have botw2, odyssey 2, MP4 and pro model +budget model and they will break out minds
@Slowdive eclipsing the sales of the original for sure as it came late into 3ds when people had move on but not so sure it will sell more than a couple millions top. It is a fairly low budget title sold at a premium.
Miitopia sold 1.18 million on 3DS (December 2016 - December 2019, launched July 2017 outside Japan) so I'd guess around 2-3 million on Switch, potential for more if the game goes viral because of memes.
@Magician I can't be bothered to check but I think Mittopia on the 3DS has already sold 1.5m (it's definitely sold over a million) and that was after when the Switch came out too.
Miitopia to take the crown from Xenoblade and Paper Mario to become Nintendo's headline RPG series from now on! ;p
Miitopia sold 1.18 million on 3DS (December 2016 - December 2019, launched July 2017 outside Japan) so I'd guess around 2-3 million on Switch, potential for more if the game goes viral because of memes.
That's what I'm afraid of.
Switch Physical Collection - 1,536 games (as of December 14th, 2025)
Switch 2 Physical Collection - 4 games (as of December 8th, 2025)
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