For The First Time In 33 Months, Switch Wasn't The US' Best-Selling Console In September

NINTENDOOMED!!!!

The launch of the OLED model ruined it's streak.
Still very impressive.

Uh there are 35 months between Every third september

@progx I am too late this time! =P

I wonder if it’ll be back on top in October, and what the split between original and OLED models will be?

Everybody in September saving money for OLED, normal service will be resumed now.

@electrolite77
People also held off purchasing a Switch in September anticipation for the OLED model's early October launch. We saw this happen in Japan, and it appears to have occurred in the US as well. (Funny enough, Switch sales held steady in Europe/UK due to last month's €30/£20 price reduction for the standard Switch).

Anyways, happy to say I was one of those who got a PS5 last month, so I was one of those units sold.

33 months is not only "not bad," but it's substantially longer than the Xbox 360's streak. NL was also, unsurprisingly, quick to publish this particular bit of news.

I'd also be a bit surprised if OLED didn't have something to do with this, people could have held off for it.

A month before OLED release? A shocker, just like with Japan.

If UK and Spain numbers are anything to go by, the OLED model had big if not huge launch, so October should be a strong month for Switch and should make up for the slower September. And of course, November and December will naturally be huge months thanks to the holidays, Black Friday/Christmas hardware bundles, and the launch of Pokemon/Mario Party.

The next month where PS5 has a shot at outselling the Switch in the US is February 2022, the launch month of Horizon Forbidden West.

It's all EA and Madden's fault for not releasing on Switch.

(That was sarcasm for those that need it explained.)

@IronMan30 you may be right. The OLED sold out in my area, all three GameStops in my area were out after one hour of opening. If you didn't preorder, you were out of luck. Heard Walmart, Target and Best Buy ran out too.

The GameStop I ordered mine through said more units were on the way, but they were caught off guard on how quickly it was going to sell out. They said they had turned away about two dozen people by the time I went to pick up my order.

Pretty sure the OLED launch had something to do with it. Still very impressive considering the long streak.
Regarding sales, if anything, units sold is more important versus dollars earned. You need dem install base to be viable.

@IronMan30 Well, it is Nintendo news, of course they're posting it.

Still, a 33-month streak is very impressive, and i agree that people waiting for the OLED-version (While it's not a huge upgrade, if you're buying your first Switch, buy that one) are likely the reason.

It's because people are so mad about the Expansion Pack Price...

KIDDING!!!

Strange seeing PS5 at number 1, considering there's still stock shortages of it.

What happened to the slump in video games sales all the media has been talking about?

@MysticX of course, it is an impressive streak.

@progx yeah, I have yet to see one in stock in my area.

People were holding off last month to get the OLED this month

The scalpers are doing a good job of ramping dollar up the PS5.

Yeah it's defo a combo of waiting for the OLED and the PS5 being like twice the price.

Well, hmpf. I'm done with Nintendo. What are they playing at? I can only support the console which is in first place. 33 months 'not bad'? Shambolic I say. Which console has the longest streak ever? That was at least the minimum goal. Rubbish.

(/s in case you need it.)

What's the point of separating dollars earned if the ps5 is sold at a loss? Like, that's weird to point out the ps5 has consistently been the top earner when in reality its an indication of money lost...

I bet Nintendo will go third party after this news. The Switch just isn’t powerful enough to compete with Sony/Microsoft/PC. I mean, I don’t think genre defining exclusives is enough for them anymore.

I've yet to actually see a PS5 in an actual store or webshop. Where are they selling these?

@ZeldaNX Ya I sit on the sony side of the fence and I feel like this had more to do with the OLED model. Nintendo will be back on top next month I'm sure. For how long though... That's another question. I wouldn't take the blip lightly. As average users aren't really aware of the difference between OLED and launch model aside from screen size.

@Dilly-Mick Not September, November 2018 was the last month someone else than Nintendo lead. From December 2018 until August 2021 the Switch was the best selling console.

@Chowdaire The PS5 with a disc drive has been sold for a profit for several months now.

@BTB20 And Nintendo might start their streak back up now that the OLED is out.

@Pokester99 With the OLED model the Switch will obviously be the best selling console in October in unit sales at least.

@ObeseChihuahua2 I think the PS5 will be the top seller in February because of Horizon.

Hopefully this is more to do with improved PS5 stock than people waiting for Switch OLED.

Too bad you have nothing exclusive to play on PS5 minus Ratchet and Clank.

The OLED is definitely the real culprit here. Many people looking to buy a new Switch in September logically would hold off until October and just get the better model. I bet the actual unit numbers even still aren't that much lower than PS5, in spite of many holding off for OLED. I'd also wager Nintendo will be right back on top, perhaps commandingly so, this month.

Still it's not based on units sold. Right? Based on dollars. So Switch is still the champ.

@Grumblevolcano Why hopefully?

@Joe-b
"As reported by The NPD Group's Mat Piscatella, Sony's PlayStation 5 was September's best-selling hardware platform in both units and dollar sales."

The part you're referring to is the little bit at the end Nintendo Life added about the overall yearly sales numbers to date, which don't really mean anything in this particular case.

@Lyricana ah yes, I see. Thanks! It'll be back on top next month. Then we'll do a recount for September to be sure!

Yeah…this is all about the OLED….next month at this time, it will retake its crown…

Is 33 months the longest streak of any console?

It's okay kids, Nintendo is not mad at you; in fact he thinks you're all amazing and just because the Switch wasn't the number one selling system in September doesn't mean Shuntaro Furukawa loves you any less. No need to get all worked up.

Lol at all the people who didn't hold off in August...

Knock on effect of that awful online package!

To say the PlayStation 5 has a very huge stock shortage, the switch must of had a shocker of a month

I have a high end PC to play FPS etc.. and a switch to play Nintendo games. Best combo.

@thegametb

Uhm Returnal? Which is a better game than Ratchet and Clank.

I own both.

If I were to bet, I'd say that the Switch probably saw it's lowest month of sales in the US since the pandemic began in March 2020.

PS5 probably saw it's highest month of sales since March 2021 (end of fiscal year boost).

Everyone at the (nintendo) office:

"Sound the Alarm!!!"
Nintendos hokages come together bow their head, and say; Its time!
suddenly they open the safe, Switch Pro for Christmas 😂.
Come on nintendo, i need something with more horsepower to counter the Deck.
For now i keep my pre order for the Deck.

People slowed down on buying because OLED. Should be back up for OCT easily. PS5 needs more worthwhile exclusives [that isn’t on PS4 or PC] out and more stock to compete consistently with Switch.

I wonder if the slow down was caused by the OLED launch, as people waited to buy it ... or if PS5 finally got restocked enough this month (before eventually being sold out everywhere again)

As others have noted, I'm sure this is somewhat due to potential Switch owners holding out for the Switch OLED. I would've done the same if I'd been shopping for a new unit. Though I play docked most of the time, so the upgrade was limited in scope in my case.

I'd eventually like to pick up a PS5 as well, though I want to wait for a "slim" version....The current design won't work well with my current entertainment center setup.

NNOOOOO! Darn you Sony! Just Joking. Congratulations Sony, on your PS5 consoles ending Nintendo Switch's 33-Month Streak of Being on Top of the US Monthly Hardware Chart! I don't think any other console/handheld will Beat Nintendo Switch's 33-Month Record!

@SnesSwitch I honestly don't think so either! 1. Xbox Series X/S is doing much better than the xbone did. 2. Ps5 doesn't have "MUST Have" Exclusives for the holidays. 3. Nintendo Switch OLED is Selling like hotcakes. 4. We won't have another Pandemic to effect sales of any company, so it's anyone's game! 5. We'll never have something as Unique and Original as Nintendo Switch. Nintendo Switch can only get better!

@Debo626 Yes, Nintendo Switch is in First place for a 33-Month Streak! Coming in Second Place is Microsoft’s Xbox 360 at a 32-Month Streak! Not sure Of third place and beyond. Would love to know though!

@Chowdaire AFAIK the current revision of PS5 with the cut down heatsink now turns a small profit.

@Blakeava1821 Thanks for the information. I seem to remember, possibly incorrectly, that the Switch broke the Xbox record when it hit 24 months. Is this not the case? I didn't think Xbox had such a long streak, wow though!

C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER

Decent run like!

Very impressive run indeed Nintendo, well done. Nothing lasts forever.

I know lots of people (myself included) that would have gladly purchased an OLED model if there was stock anywhere. I don't care enough to pay a premium on secondary market and my time is too valuable to fight bots and chase inventory on twitter. Hoping Nintendo can figure out a way to crank out a bunch of OLED's in time for holidays.

That being said, I think that there is a pent-up / growing demand for PS5 and Xbox and if they can sort out there supply issues sooner than later they should reap the benefits. Lack of a switch pro and mid(late?) life cycle of the Switch, I'd have to imagine it will be hard for Nintendo to get back on top.

This is your fault for not buying 5 Switches.

In all seriousness, I wouldn't be surprised if this year ends up being the highest Switch console sales yet. Beating last year would be a feat and a half and I think they can do it! Judging from the software already announced for next year they have it all lined up to keep up the momentum.

OLED releasing in October likely crippled September sales. Still, the system could use a facelift and I'm not sure the OLED will cut it. It's definitely approaching dated from a hardware standpoint. Hopefully Nintendo is prepping something new and just waiting until supply chain issues are resolved to make an announcement.

This may sound weird coming from a Nintendo fan, but I don't care if Nintendo is doing bad, I care if they're doing too well. They only have been disappointing fans for a long time now. They know what their fans want, but they put little effort in showing that they give a crap. Of course, they gave us Metroid, and the last direct wasn't a total disappointment, but they could have done SO MUCH during the last year or so. They do give us the carrot now and then, since a lot of ACNH fans got the updates they wanted. However, Nintendo has been a mess. They've been putting down their fans, refusing to listen to the majority, and haven't been doing much in general. They sit back and let the indie and third-party games do the work as they watch the dough roll in. I know they're struggling, I mean, who isn't? Considering everything that's been going on in the world recently.

Honestly, I'd like Nintendo to get the rug pulled out from under them. Nintendo does its best when they have some good competition who're capable of putting the axe to their money tree. I'd love to see Sony put out a console that's on par with the PS2. Of course, I don't expect that, but we need these businesses thriving. All the same to every business worldwide. The world is at an all-time record-breaking low, but I won't get further into that. I never understood what Microsoft and Sony were thinking when they put out their next gen consoles. To think both of them would screw up so badly. People talk about how they forgot about the PS5 and Xbox equivalent since they can't get one. It might as well have not existed to begin with, especially when the majority of gamers had no choice but to wait and be satisfied with what they had. They really did Nintendo a solid in the meantime.

@electrolite77 nah it’s based off price not units. Considering a PS5 is 100 -200 or 1/3-2/3 more than a switch. The ps5 sold 10 million units which means Nintendo has sold around 13.5 million units so far this year/

I work in a retail warehouse where about 80 PS5s have just been sitting for months, waiting for their moment. With that said, we also received about 800 switch Oleds the first week of October.

@Torn I agree about the ps and Xbox part but Nintendo hasn’t forgot about the fans. They have their ips and make games for them. All their games are extremely popular and it takes years to make and develop a game. Sony and Microsoft have fewer first party games than Nintendo does actually. The only thing you could be talking about is third party games that don’t come to Nintendo just because they are never the top in the graphics category. They are all the same in trying to hit a nitch gaming crowd. Ps wants console players that will buy anything where as Nintendo wants gamers that just like to play games and Microsoft is shooting for the pc crowd migration of gaming.

@FredsBodyDouble I strongly believe they are waiting until things are back to normal. Nintendo sees the issues everyone else is having and doesn’t want to get into that supply issue area so they just modified the switch with things that wouldn’t be an issue getting supplies of. I strongly believe the new 4K version ( docked) was going to release this year hence why the dock is capable of it. To do so and seamlessly they would need to have better hardware specs I believe as well and that puts them in a gray area and probably at a price point of at least 400 used also if not a little more. I am not getting the oled because within two years they will have yet another console upgrade I believe and I already have the second model so do not really need the oled anyways so I’ll wait for the newer better switch or the SwitchXL 4K I should say lol.

PS5 is the year's best-selling console in terms of dollars but was losing money with every unit sold (till now). Switch instead didnt have a price drop in 4 1/2 years. Production cost was around $260 per unit in 2017 and probably under $200 in 2021.

@IronMan30,

Nintendo life know a lot of users hate the fact the Switch has sold so well, as how can a modestly powered overpriced console (at least in their eyes), have sold like hot cakes for so long.

@GrailUK i dont think switch will beat last years sale. for this year, Switch's sales are actually down year on year. the demand may have already plateaued and is in the down trend. no release of software will change that.

@dimi PS5 is no longer sold at a loss

@Torn what are you on about with the new xbox's and ps5? MS has stated they are the fastest selling xbox's ever and the ps5 is Sony's fastest selling console as well? The ps5 sold 10 million 3 weeks quicker than the ps4, and last time I checked the ps4 is not considered a flop. They also announced that this year's 1st quarter revenue is the highest in PlayStations history. Demand for the series x and ps5 is huge.
Sony's selling a lot of games, xbox gamepass is growing at a steady rate and Nintendo is selling 3 versions of a extremely popular console. I like you think Nintendo have been coasting a bit this last year or so, but I also think it's one of the best times in gaming ever.
All 3 companies are going in slightly different directions but all are doing great. Which is good news for me personally as I game on all 3 and have some amazing games to play now and in the coming years.

@thegametb Ratchet and Clank isn't the only PS5 exclusive, there is also The Demon's Souls remake and Returnal.

@Bunkerneath
Nintendo should just sell everything to Microsoft and be done with it. Flogging a dead horse at this point.
There’s literally no games on the Switch or the 3DS.

T'was a good run.

Now they will surely go third party.

@johnvboy tbh, I think they'll get their moment to troll when the next console comes out. Nintendo has a habit of messing up royally (sales wise, I usually like the follow ups more than the OG) and it won't sell so articles infested with trolls will probably be common.

It's time, Nintendo was simply lazy with its Oled version.

@IronMan30,

If they continue with the Switch brand they may be fine, I think it's something they could build upon.

@diwdiws We'll see how much work the OLED does but I think they can beat it. (Last years sales are hard to gauge with everyone's situation and could be inflated somewhat. Even beating that figure marginally would be a comparitive success.)

OLED to the rescue in October.

@BTB20 my bad I misread it and thought it was the first September in 33 months that Playstation outsold them. 😅

@johnvboy I thought that with the DS, but 3DS had a rocky start and it sold a bit above half of what DS did. I guess we'll see but Nintendo devices are not guaranteed to succeed simply because their predecessor did (mostly contrary to Sony).

@IronMan30,

I think the dedicated handheld business was pretty much in decline by that time, just look at how bad the Vita did.

The Switch is gold for Nintendo, a concept they can build upon generation to generation, and the name and branding is genius, plus they have managed an awesome feat, a console that appeals to a wide demographic, which buys traditional software, and lots of it, trust me the Switch is here to stay as a brand.

@johnvboy I actually think the next system will be branded as a Switch but the market will react similarly to how they did with 3DS (and to a much greater degree, Wii U) and be "confused" as to what it is. People have this odd response to new Nintendo products where they seem to think it's confusing and don't know if it is the new or old console. Or, people will hate it because it has a launch similar to PS5. I promise you, Nintendo 100% cannot get away with that type of launch (unless there is another pandemic by then or Covid doesn't really let up and supply chains don't improve). Those are my main worries with next gen. Those, or people will get upset with how Nintendo didn't release many new games after launch.

Really, Nintendo needs to constantly think they are following the Wii U to have a successful new launch/console. The market, in general, reacts to them very strongly and anything remotely resembling negativity at launch will not be good for them. Imo, anyway.

@IronMan30,

Might not though, the Wii to Wii U was a totally different situation, as the Wii was pretty much their first venture into a the wider more casual audience, and when the Wii U was launched most had already jumped ship to cheaper tablet devices.

The Switch has been popular since launch, and although the pandemic did not hurt sales, it was not the only reason for them either, the Switch has had lots of good software available, plus strong and diverse indie offerings to back this up, they will be fine with the Switch 2, or whatever they end up calling it.

Leading up to the Switch OLED release, Sony got to have a month in the spotlight.
Now, back to getting steamrolled for the holiday season. :-/

The OLED as some have said probably contributed to the drop but once they get more OLED inventory it will change again. So a dip isn't something new it's if it drops off the chart that makes a difference.

Well it will be interesting to see if PS5 keeps the throne or if its a one month wonder. Really I don't know the how the PS5 can be outselling anything when there is just no stock to be found anywhere. I typically buy a system a year (whether I need it or not...LoL) so was looking in the last few weeks to see if I could find anything. I have not found a single ps5 (either model) or a Series X......fortunately some Series S stock hit the last few days and I got a steal on game pass ultimate ($4per month for 3yrs) so decided to take an S so I could start enjoying my subscription. I really like the S....great value and great form factor. Very good for those that don't care about full 4K. Enjoying Psychonauts 2 and Plague tale and getting ready for Forza 5 and Halo. I will eventually buy a ps5 (disc) because I have about 50 ps4 disc games and like Sony's exclusives but for now they can go rot in the corner until they improve their stock situation.

@QuickSilver88 I think and suspect PS5 will stay atop for some time once it starts inventory that isn't something anyone here will decry that will happen. It's how many games can it support buyers willing to buy to get that option will determine it's staying power.