Switch Has Now Been The Best-Selling Console In The US For 22 Consecutive Months - That's A New Record

Wow, the Nintendo Switch is as bestselling as B R E A D.

Edit: Honestly you could switch out Nintendo Switch with Bread and I wouldn't tell the difference.

"Time to eat my morning Nintendo Switch."

"I love playing on my Bread! It has [insert clever bread puns of Nintendo Franchises here]!"

And I am one of those proud Nintendo Switch owners as well! This might be my favorite Nintendo console so far!

People scoffed at the idea that the Switch would pass the Wii in total sales, but it’s looking like it should pass it with ease.

This is really impressive, and I can't say I'm surprised. It's an amazing console and appeals to people of all ages. It's becoming one of my favorites ever.

I'm curious how it'll do next month when the new consoles arrive. Obviously those are gonna sell like crazy given how pre orders are all but impossible to find right now, but I wonder if either console will have enough supply to beat out the Switch at this point. I'd imagine their supply issues will greatly hamstring their ability to make sales, but maybe the Switch will get bumped off the top.

Thanks to the scalpers buying all the new stock and then selling it on ebay for $400..

The sky is the limit for sales on this thing if Nintendo keeps supporting it. Even early next gen, Nintendo will continue to have an advantage over the competition with mostly cheaper hardware (pretty crazy to think the Series S will cost the same as a Switch) and a huge, ever-expanding library filled with killer exclusives.

@J_dz24 I think you over-estimate how many scalpers there actually are.

@roboshort over 100 Million is still far away. It depends on when the next Nintendo system will come out.

@infernogott
Since Nintendo themselves have confirmed that we are at the midpoint of the Switch's lifecycle, it should have no problems crossing 100 million units sold.

Very impressive numbers. At this rate, will you surpass even the Wii.

This has happened by combining to seperate consoles together and getting one total. A handheld and a home (I need a TV) console.

I've come away from this article more impressed with the 360, 2 years as the best selling console and this was well after the Wii and ps3 were out. I mean I knew the switch was selling well, but the system it beat didn't even register to me, I thought it would have been the Wii.

Did they ever say if PS5 has any way of going handheld cause i think a large part of switches appeal is the take it anywhere thing. At this point people don't care how many terraflops it has. They wanna know if they can play it on the toilet, the bus or the airport.

SwItCh pRO cOnFiRmEd

And y’all were saying this would be a slow year for Nintendo 😅 All they needed was Animal Crossing!

I will give it until the end of Winter in 2021 which could make it to 25 months by January or 26 months by February.

Does anyone think it could pass the Gameboy/Gameboy Colour? That would mean passing 118.7m units, which would put it third on the all time list behind the DS "family" (154m) and PS2 (155m). The PS4 is on 112m.

@BenAV : Yeah. I definitely don't see the need for a next-gen Switch any time soon. Sure, I'd love one like any hardcore fan, but when looking at the bigger picture, it simply isn't needed at this point, and I would like for enough time to pass so that the next generation yields a more substantial improvement in specs/resolution than if they were to release a new model, say, now. The very idea of a next-gen Switch that can pull off 1080p in handheld mode and UHD when docked almost sounds too good to be true.

And backwards compatibility is an absolute must. Ideally, the Joy-Con should be backwards compatible as well, even if they cannot be used in handheld mode in the next-gen Switch.

The Switch seems to be harkening back to the 80s Nintendo; massively popular with a huge install base (just like the NES) loads of quality titles from many third parties as well as Nintendo’s own offerings (just like the NES) along with exorbitant prices for the games themselves (just like the NES). 😁

On a serious note, I’m not surprised that it’s done so well. Nintendo of today is not the Nintendo of old. Back in the 80s/90s most people could only afford one system, so Nintendo needed you to choose their system instead of a competitor’s. Now they are in the perfect position (that will probably stick with them for the foreseeable future). They don’t care if you buy a PlayStation or Xbox; if you want to play Nintendo exclusives you need a Switch. That, combined with nostalgia for older gamers, family friendly games and accessories, plenty of mature games for the ‘hardcore crew’ (which although don’t look as nice as on the big systems it means you can play on the bus!) means they have A unique corner of the market. Sure, Microsoft are going to muscle in with their play anywhere, but the appetite for a dedicated portable console is clearly there. It remains to see how much of a dent this makes to Nintendo, but as a parent if I was looking at buying a console, then a tablet and a controller for my kids to play mobile I would probably just choose the Switch anyway (as it does it all out of the one box).

After the dark days of the Wii U (which I love and supported heavily) it is nice to see Nintendo back on top again. Long may it last. Gaming without Nintendo would be like cartoons without Disney!

TLDR; Nintendo today are in as strong a position as the NES days of the 80s, with a unique position in the market not in direct competition with Sony/Microsoft and that’s a good thing!

But Nintendoomed! That guy on the Internet said so! why would he lie!?

The switch started out as a hybrid console and that’s still how it sells best. But as time goes on it will continue to shrink and grow more and more portable I suspect it has a long life ahead of it as a portable console. Similar to how the original GameBoy started out large and heavy and then moved on to GameBoy pocket and GameBoy colour whilst continuing to play the same games.

Even when they bring out a more powerful switch to to continue in the hybrid space. The will continue to be a demand for shrunken switch to fill the market segment that the Vita and 3DS used to fill.

Switch has got the 3DS in its sights, but it’s still some way away from even matching the PSP in overall sales. Should beat both of those handily in the end, but I think its success ought to be gauged against handhelds as much as home consoles. The DS is probably out of reach at 150-odd million, but you never know - if Nintendo sit on this level for long enough....

I've really been playing a lot more video games than ever before this past year after I got a Switch, so it has certainly proven itself to me.

@SwitchVogel I think there are some other factors in the Switch's favor, too. Excluding the Xbox Series S (which is almost not a real next gen system), the Switch is significantly cheaper than the new hardware coming out. With the popularity at an all time high, some notable big releases this year (even including as far back as Animal Crossing) plus Hyrule Warriors Age of Calamity being a Breath of the Wild Zero in many people's eyes, I think Nintendo will stay ahead.

Throw in the fact that people have hesitated a bit with the new hardware as well because both aren't offering much actual new software that requires the new hardware, it could be a year or two before most people feel the need to upgrade because Sony and Microsoft want to cater to their existing userbases rather than totally move on.

And then the supply issues you've mentioned. Plus Covid making some buyers weary of particularly large investments but oddly more willing to spend on extravagant smaller purchases and Nintendo might be poised to have their best Christmas yet with the Switch. Even if not in hardware, certainly in software.

I myself am not sure I want to dive into next gen with a PS5 or some such yet, but I'll definitely be grabbing a few more Switch games.

@Ralizah The Series S is basically a souped up Xbox One X, though. And I'm not entirely sure who the target audience is. Xbox has often made its money selling to gamers who wanted the biggest, strongest console on the market, regardless of the games. And Xbox One X did that. But the Series S feels like it's the budget model that no one will want. For $100 more, you get the PS5 digital system, which is significantly more powerful and runs most of the games the Xbox will run plus all the PlayStation exclusives. And if you want in on Microsoft products.. if you really are dedicated to that, it just seems a PC or the Series X is such a better buy.

The Series S feels like the device you wish a year later you hadn't bought and you wish you'd saved just a little longer to get the better model. It even plays Xbox One X games worse than a One X. And with there not being any games on the Series X/S systems that won't work on the One/One X for at least a couple of years.. almost seems like it'd be better to go buy a refurbished One/One X for a fraction of the cost if you NEED a system now and don't want to save up for the Series X first.

@infernogott 62 million was reported months ago. I bet it'll be 70+ after Christmas, easily. At that point.. we're probably only 18-24 months from it breaking 100 million. And even if Nintendo made a newer model, it would still count in those sales numbers so long as it wasn't a fully new system.

@HotGoomba @Ooyah Bayoguetta the Crumbran Sandwitch

@Pod This is the big thing for me. Amazing games and sales aside, it's just easier for me to take time to game with it than previous systems have been.

@Krull you a forgetting the DS and PSP had no smartphone competition.

@kobashi100 Yep, that's a very good point - I hadn't factored that in. I guess that makes it more impressive that the Switch is almost certainly going to beat the PSP's numbers in the long run.

If the Switch doesn't beat the 3DS sales, though, given its position as the only dedicated handheld in the present market, and a hybrid to boot, one could even argue that Nintendo had failed. Nintendoomed, all over again!

I started with a launch switch. By Xmas that year, we had one for my teenager and another sitting under the tree for my then 7 year old. Now our 4 year old is waiting everyday for me to get home with mine so he can play breath of the wild and Minecraft. A 4th will be under the tree this year, unless I can hold out til March to see if any rumors are true...
Even if other another, I still have a 2 year old who will be gaming in next year if 2.

@Deltath It's nothing like a One X, though. The internals are almost identical to the Series X. The primary difference is a weaker GPU, which is mostly not an issue because the device isn't designed to run anything at over 1440p. Most of that GPU grunt in the Series X is being flushed down the native 4K toilet.

The internals are all far more modern than the One X, including a much stronger CPU, which was the biggest design flaw of that console.

The hardware value is really something else. You'd have to pay the price of the console for just an equivalent CPU alone on PC.

Everyone else has made great points, so I'll keep it simple. Nintendo is simply good at what they do. Sure, only about every other console of theirs is a hit for the most part, but even then their games have always been among the highest of quality. They're good at being different and making video game that people WANT to play. They continue to have my full support going forward. 😄

@BenAV,

Without a doubt their best system, total agreement with you.

The Wii was my favorite console. It had the Virtual Console, Madden, and NCAA Football. I played Ocarina of Time and Majoras Mask so many times. Harvest Moon SNES was fun too. The option to play GameCube discs was amazing! I learned how amazing Windwaker was. Twilight Princess was fun to play on the Wii too. I didn't get into Skyward Sword as much. The Wii had really good Harvest Moon games. If I can play those games on the Switch, I may believe the Switch is better than the Wii. Based on the track record of the Nintendo Switch Online, it won't pass the Wii.

It'll be interesting to see if this lasts once next gen stock is more reliable to obtain. Switch will have no problems this holiday given the awful stock situation of PS5 and Series X/S means the only systems available this holiday are Switch, PS4, PS4 Pro and XB1S which is almost identical to the last 2 years.

Don't think the stock situation will be resolved until at least March 2021.

3 Nintendo Switch systems in my household (2 OG, 1 Lite). Had a total of 4 grace my household, but the Switch I brought during its launch window was stolen last year and replaced afterwards.

Great system. Can't wait to see what lies in store for us.

Not surprising. Switch is at the peak of its lifecycle while PS4 and XB1 are on the wane (though I doubt we'll see next-gen sales pick up until next year given how much of their library is available on current systems).

How the heck did the 360 pull THAT off??

@Ooyah perfect.

My thoughts are that it would be GREAT to get a switch Pro model, but I want it to be at a time that it can seriously have a lot of power in a small box. I buy two new phones every year, the new Galaxy Note (plus/ultra) series and the Mate Pro series. I understand that most people can't afford to do this. And for the longest time I couldn't either. I'm only saying that to say this: People spend $1,000 on a phone that they will use for 2 years, maybe 3. But then get really upset paying $400 for a system they will use for 4 years or so. I would be happy even paying $500 for a Switch Pro that had a lot of power in the same frame. I've had my current switch around 3 years I think. So it would be fine for me to replace. I just think that the new switch should work with all the old games, and also any new games coming out should be scalable for both style systems.

@Shambo Amazing

@Krull
If the Switch outsells the PSP, it will also have outsold the 3DS as the 3DS has sold less than the PSP.

In short its my best Console and handheld i ever had.
This hybrid 2 in 1 is just genius. Eventho it struggles sometimes to have big quality games, the developers have Done an outstanding job! wolvenstein, zelda, mario, smashbros, vampyr, mana, lanoire, doom, mortal kombat etc etc etc.

Not surprising since the console seems to sell out within hours after it goes back in-stock at various retailers.

@J_dz24 Never mind that what you say doesn't make any logical sense. So, the scalpers bought them and sell them for $400 and yet it's the best selling console for 22 months straight? So, if there weren't scalpers it would actually sell even better, no?

@Ralizah "Most of that GPU grunt in the Series X is being flushed down the native 4K toilet."

Damn, that 4K toilet using all the GPU horsepower.

@Gamecuber All said quite nicely.

@Krull at the current rate it will outsell the 3DS in 2021. There's zero chance it will sell less than the 3DS.

@roboshort I believe passing the Wii is almost a given at this point. If handled right it might surpass the DS. If it does that it would only be 1 million away from being the best selling console of all time.

@Yodalovesu The Xbox 360 was $100 cheaper than the PS3 at launch, there was the bandwagon on YouTube which naturally drew a lot of people over to the Xbox 360, developers offered timed-exclusivity to the Xbox 360, and it overall appealed to a lot of gamers with franchises such as GTA, CoD, and Minecraft, which the Wii couldn't do well.

@SwitchVogel As usual, expect probably about 2 years after the consoles' launches before they're actually selling. That's when their libraries are large enough to appeal to consumers.

This is great. The Switch's success is well deserved and a much needed change of pace in the console space. It looks like the Switch will hit 70M worldwide by the end of the year. Love or hate the Switch, that's just impressive.

I think it's pretty much nailed on that the Switch is going to be widely regarded as one of the best consoles of all time. I'm so glad the great Wii U games got the love they deserved eventually as well.

@Zeldafan79 Over 100 million PS4's have sold so i think its safe to say normal console TV gaming is still very much a thing.

I was quick enough to get it day 1 and I play on the Switch more than any other system I have (PS4/Xbone/3DS). I think is time for an upgrade thought, like maybe a Switch Pro????

still people want one, even more then one in a single household.
i think i will end up with more then one too. my wife likes animal crossing, so waiting (hoping) for a great deal on black friday or around holidays

@Yodalovesu Kinect was super hot at that time.

@roboshort
well it still has to catchup 60 million sold wii units.
thatbcan be a problem, because the wii was also apealing for non gamers, sportschools, educational, caretake.

i dont think the switch will beat the wii, but it will be close

@NathanTheAsian The period in question wasn't durign the early years of the box 360: the 360 streak was after the Kinect release. That's why Xbone started off touting Kinect, they thought it was the future because it sold like hotcakes.

@Krull Switch will probably pass the 3DS by the end of Nintendo's fiscal year, based on their sales as of their last report and the projections they provided investors. They are on track to sell 30 million Switches this FY, which is bonkers.

i wonder what happen to sales figured when mario 3d world comes out. its a game alot of people missed.

@SwitchVogel,

It will outsell them too.

It’s the best console on the market because the dared to do something different and it’s paid off big time.

I honestly think that Mario Kart Home Circuit is going to sell a lot of systems.

@infernogott They should be close to 80 million at the end of March. And will probably break 100 million within the next year to year and a half after that.

PS5 and XSX|S pre-orders opened last month and sold-out almost instantly, indicating very high demand

Switch sales still grew 55% YoY last month.

Yet more proof that the launch of PS5 and XSX|S won't impact Switch sales at all.

@HotGoomba C'mon bro you gotta have ONE kickin around in there!

Captain Toast: Treasure Cracker!

@infernogott not really to far away considering they are over 62 million

@J_dz24 Yeah and that helps even more. Because nobody will resist seen a switch for 299.00 I already own a switch but if I see one for 299.00 I'm buying it.

I think the switch will last for 10-15 more years until nintendo releases their next console idk.

@Varkster

Lol For real though.

@Ralizah

Straight-up though. It seems to be much closer to the ps5 than what that person was trying to give it credit for. It's just that the series X is above them both.

@SwitchplayerJohn Not really, Nintendo already has the top battle royale games and a plethora of third party games, not to mention it is the go to system for massive library of Indie games especially on the go. And unless you have been living under a rock a lot of this companies already planning dedicated games especially for the switch, EA is already working on an extended Need for speed library for the switch as we speak. Just cause it doesn't have all major or maybe your favorite 3rd party games it doesn't mean the Nintendo switch is lacking, far from it and as you can tell is doing pretty well for it self =

@Grumblevolcano then Monster Hunter Rise release and destroy Sony chances of having a lead up in Japan, here Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild 2 in novembre 19th of 2021 and Bayonetta 3 in Halloween, poor Sony and Microsoft they gonna be trampled like a tractor with this games and more, Nintendo is gonna unleash it bigest games and franchise in 2021 and 2022 to mantain his lead on US sales charts and others countries.

@Krull i believe at the end of Nintendo Fiscal Year in march 2021, it would have outsell 3DS and PSP, and would be closer to outsell Wii and maybe PS4 too,2021 is shaping up to be a year that could surpass 2017(Switch best year) and 2019(Switch second best year) Monster Hunter Rise in march 2021 worldwide, Monster Hunter Stories 2 in summer 2021, Bayonetta 3 in halloween, 2D Metroid game that continues the Metroid Fusion story, Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild 2 in novembre 19, all this games and more, will make Switch surpass Wii and maybe PS4 too, outselling 3DS and PSP and Wii is almost garanteed to happen, im curious if Switch will become closer to Game Boy and DS number in sales, i picture Switch sales number at 80-90 milions console sold at the end of Nintendo Fiscal Year in march 2021, and at 100 milions or more around E3.

WOW 22 consectutives months dominating USA sales charts(that very impressive) never in my entire Gamer life that started when i was 6 year old, i have see a console dominating the sales charts of a country(USA) for so long, i expect and hope at the end of Nintendo Fiscal Year in march 2021, Switch it would have sold 80-90 milions consoles and with the help of games such as Monster Hunter Rise, Bayonetta 3, 2D Metroid game that continues the Metroid Fusion story, and Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild 2( im tired of calling this game this name) would help Nintendo and Switch surpass 100 milions sales or more.

@SwitchplayerJohn You obviously lost in Alice in WonderLand. They could care less right now their sales figure already show they really don't need those corporation greed. They got plenty of others coming aboard including Indie KS and IndiGO coming with some having huge success. So if your just looking at 1st games then this is why your not in the gaming industry Innovating like Nintendo.

@roboshort PS2's next!

Just remember Pachter knows better than Nintendo, people. He says they should just sell the Switch Lite. Never doubt PacI'm sorry I can't even finish the joke!