Nintendo Switch "Lifetime US Unit Sales" Surpass Xbox 360

So what is the total US number now for the Switch vs PS2 and DS?

The Switch was the first console I've ever bought day one, it definitely felt like the stars were aligning for Nintendo to deliver a home run again. Passing the PS2 is doubtful considering the crazy long legs it had + the boost of being the most affordable dvd player for a while. But passing the DS looks possible with no solid sight of a successor yet. Even when that comes this thing is destined to live on for many twilight years as the cheap entry console to gaming.

After the lackluster sales of the Wii U and very early in the lifecycle of the Switch we found out about joycon drift it would’ve been a brave person to predict this level of success. The drift put me off buying the system for about 12 months but I caved due to the great games and the portability factor and I don’t regret it. Developing all your games for one console instead of spreading it over 2 (Wii U / 3DS) made the difference

Doesn't count, because reasons I just made up.

You love to see it.

makes me wonder where nintendo will go for their next console. as obvious as the switch 2 sounds their last attempt at a console sequel massively bombed

theyre always preaching innovation so i honestly dont know if they'll play it safe with a simply more powerful switch or not

Come on Nintendo, don't make the same mistake as you did with the Wii and wait too long for the next gen. While I'm fine as I have a backlog of about 100 games and counting I'm in the vast minority and people will move on even faster than they did 10 years ago.

@boxyguy If you're referring to the Wii U, it bombed because people were already fatigued from wiggle controls and other gimmicks from the Wii era. I still vividly recall watching the presentation of taking an imaginary swing at the game pad sitting on the ground representing a golf ball and recoiling in disbelief. From that point on I knew it was dead on arrival.

As for the Switch successor, there's a clear craving for a more powerful version so, unless Nintendo do something stupid (not beyond them), I can only see another monumental success.

Switch is my favorite but the DS/3DS is a really close second.

@HalBailman thats true, the switch is a much more subtle yet impactful gimmick they can carry on to a sequel. it'll be quite a bold step, nintendo rarely makes a powerful console with no new gimmicks just for the sake of it. consoles like SNES and gamecube didnt sell that much better than their previous gen counterparts when all they could offer was being a simply more powerful version

that could be an apples vs oranges comparison tho, i just find it interesting. i can easily see the pendulum swinging to the other side and people wishing the switch took a more bold direction, arguing a switch pro only appeals to hardcore fans that want better framerate and more 3rd parties games to come to it natively

that said i desperately want them to continue the console/handheld hybrid, i play my switch 95% of the time portable

That software attach rate for the wiiu was quite nice. I don’t think they can beat PS2 but I still think DS is possible.

@HalBailman

The Wii U was definitely a flop but I wouldn’t say it was because of motion control gimmicks. Nintendo simply failed to effectively communicate exactly what the Wii U was. They relied too heavily on the Wii branding which was waning at the time and it ultimately confused consumers. Was Wii U a new console or just a controller with a screen on it? They just couldn’t create enough quality software that highlighted the asynchronous gameplay the Wii U Gamepad offered. 13 Million Wii Us sold. I think TotK sold 10 million in 2 days 😂. Look at the Switch tho, 132 Million+ sold. It has a great chance to catch both DS and PS2…it’s never even been discounted yet.

I’m with you on a more powerful Switch 2!…but I’m tempering the heck out of my expectations, this is Nintendo afterall. I’ll guarantee there will be some face palming once the specs, storage is revealed. Let’s hope Nvidia + Nintendo engineering can make some magic again.

@Ryu_Niiyama

The attach rates were impressive on the Wii U but sadly it’s more reflective of the lack of options in software available. So many devs ditched on Wii U early on so any games designed for Wii U sold fairly well, what other choice did gamers have? As poorly as it performed it did debut the massive franchise that is Splatoon so not a complete failure

@Rainz That’s true! Many people I now didn’t have any idea that the Wii and WiiU were different consoles. Those weren’t gamers, but they did buy games for other people and were so confused about which ones to get.

If Switch 2 had backwards compatibility though, it wouldn’t create the same problems, even if it had ‘Switch’ in the name.

@nimnio funny how the switch oled ended up being that $350 upgrade haha, but it does have my mind racing on what a NEW switch would be exactly. i feel theres a line between people expecting a minor hardware boost like 3ds to new 3ds, or a pure jump to next gen console like ps4 to ps5. id hope for the latter just for the sake of a better switch UI alone

This is great and I am happy for Nintendo. To see them have such massive success - arguably the most success the've had since the SNES - warms my heart to no end.

However, I have not heard a single analysis or perspective that considers the fact that Nintendo has essentially tied two products into one - a portable and home console.

Does the success of the Switch more than offset any market losses they may incur now that they don't have a dedicated portable and home console?

If you look at the 3DS / Wii U, then probably. But I'd argue that the DS / Wii era proved much more profitable, with more market penetration, then the Switch alone current has.

Thoughts?

@Rainz Nintendo reports overall software attach rate. So that means that people are buying games for the system no matter who makes them. That’s what makes the attach rate so impressive given the low number of wiiu units sold. It means that the people that did buy a wiiu found a number of games to play. Library size doesn’t impact that (other than increasing the potential for a higher attach rate). Quality does impact attach rate however. Considering that the library is smaller than the competition, a high attach rate speaks to the quality of games on offer. Rather than buying it for one game or franchise.

@ninty_junkie77 I think Switch is actually more profitable. Between the higher prices for games and notably Switch entries in most series are selling close to if not better than the Wii and DS entries combined.

e.g. BOTW > Twilight Princess + Phantom Hourglass
Super Mario Odyssey > Super Mario 64DS + SMG

The Wii/DS was a once in a lifetime case for hardware given about half of the DS audience may have been taken by the Smartphone market. And the DS (and PSP) were rife with piracy, so hardware numbers are bolstered by people who weren't actually buying games.

But in terms of 1st party games Nintendo are selling their best on Switch. Which is also better longterm given it means a lot of their series have a more prominent position in gaming now than ever.

are they actually gonna dethrone the ds and ps2? I think that the ds is landing third, but i wonder if the switch can actually beat the beast

@boxyguy their LATEST attempt at a sequel console bombed, not last. SNES and 3DS both delivered smaller but still impressive total figures, and Color's shelf life was deliberately cut short by Advance which then almost reprised the obscured but estimated numbers of G4 Game Boy itself. Wii U, a quality concept in its own right, is the only commercial misfire among clear followups. Besides, come hell or high water, Nintendo's previous successful features from shoulder buttons and analogue sticks to touch and motion controls have persisted through generations since, and Switch's hybrid format is a QoL revolution of a similar caliber, not to mention something other console makers won't even touch with a long pole (this side of streaming devices) in the visible future. We've seen Microsoft and even - if more tangentially - SIE allow game releases on a Nintendo console this generation, and that speaks volumes about the kind of appeal Switch holds over the market.

@epicgamner PS2 is only a million sales or so ahead of NDS. Recent higher numbers sound odd and progressively higher to the point of suspectedly revisionist - as a retro gamer myself, I can easily believe that PS2 could sell some more over the last ten years, but for that "some more" to still be ALL new retail units of an officially discontinued console rather than abundant and often already chipped (for a price, sometimes even HDD-equipped) second hand ones? X: Doubt.

The console has sold better than the mighty PS4, without all that power, and of course those essential multi platform AAA games.

Well done Nintendo..

The real story here is how the Xbox 360, a console lacking any personality whatsoever, managed to sit in third place. Guess Americans really, really like shooting aliens.

Switch needs to sell another 20m or so to topple global sales for DS and PS2. Might not make it now, unless the Switch sequel coincides with a price drop on the original.

@Krull

The first few years of Xbox 360 were stellar. Fantastic library of exclusive games and ushering in the indie era on consoles etc but then Microsoft started chasing others success whilst misunderstanding it completely hence the Kinect. And although Kinect sold very well (over 20 million) they didn't pick up on the fact it was very much a novelty item that people were thoroughly sick of by the end of the generation (my mate had us round for one night of playing bowling/golf and then it was never touched again) but rather than drop it they doubled down on it.

Not to mention "TV TV TV" and everything else that followed except a line up of quality games that matched the 360 early years.

@SBandy1 and Xbox is still suffering from those bad decisions!

@Krull what are you talking about the 360 was/is awesome!

Some arrogant Nintendo fans here 😆

I’m happy with the switch. I’d just like better joy cons and higher resolution/ more power. I think they should just approach it like apple do with their phones just keep upgrading the concept. But I don’t think they will.

@SBandy1 Fair shout on the indie games. Stuff like Dust: AET was great. The exclusives, though… Great if you like racing games (nope!) and shooters (meh - mixed feelings), I suppose. I find that library pretty dreary - but I guess that’s AAA gaming in the Noughties. PS3 was far better in the teens. Not my favourite generation, I must admit.

@boxyguy I think it's time to play safe for them. If they want to sell like crazy, they just need to release a more powerful system that allows to play Switch games named Super Nintendo Switch. That's it.

If they want to make something unique, I can only think of a way to play having two screens at once (as if you didn't have to place the screen into the deck in order to play on the TV). That way you could play DS, 3DS and WiiU games on Switch without having to change the control scheme. It would also add a lot of new gameplay posibilities, and we could finally play Nintendoland again!

I don't think PS2 will be dethroned by Switch as I still consider PS2 is the best machine for playing DDR and other Konami Rhythm games.

@ninty_junkie77 that’s an interesting thought, but reflective of the times then and now. It would be difficult for Nintendo to have both a handheld and dedicated home console now. Look how much MSFT is struggling against Sony with near unlimited resources. I did think that it would be intriguing for Nintendo to release a dedicated home console, then in essence have the Switch be handheld. Maybe even have the Switch interact with said home console as a third screen. The main reason it is selling so well is that it filled the need that the other two couldn’t….a console experience on the go.

You are probably right about software when taken together, but Wii Sports notwithstanding, it seems this allows for a better environment for franchises to thrive- Animal Crossing, Zelda, Pikmin, Smash etc. seem to be doing better separately.

@Anti-Matter It’s not a matter of which is better - it’s which sold more. And as you well know, the arcades will always beat either for dance games!

@HalBailman
Wii U didn't fail due to motion controls. It failed due to marketing/branding. Many people thought the Wii U was an accessory to the Wii. Every commercial showed the gamepad front and center with the Wii U in the distance (which did look like the Wii)

@Krull
Sold more doesn't really equal with better games.
Switch still lack of DDR and BEMANI style Rhythm games while PS2 is the best machine for playing those Konami Rhythm games at home.

@Ryu_Niiyama i feel they beat them. ps2 was for sale 12 years. the switch hasnt even been 7 yet.

im sure we will get the switch 2 in 2024. but the ps2 was being sold for 12 years. the switch not even 7 yet. i feel they won.

This is a really weird statistic to announce today… the Xbox 360 sold 85 million units while the Wii sold 101 million. The Switch would’ve surpassed the Xbox 360 before the Wii. Only about 20 million more units until the Switch surpasses the PS2 and DS.

@epicgamner i doubt they will if there coming with the switch 2 in 2024. but being the ps2 was being sold for 12 years and the switch isnt even 7 years yet. i feel they won.

@riggah Exactly! The game pad. No one wanted it. Nintendo needed to return to a conventional system, not a gimmick system 2.0. While the Wii U name might have confused some people, the thing would have flopped regardless of the name. Perhaps a new name, priority focus on the game pad for its remote play, and a touch more graphical power, we might have something. Instead, it was just a silly system.

That is amazing and not surprising.

Day One OG still going strong. (A fair few joycons knackered up mind).

Love the dang thing but my wallet hates it.

@Rainz You nailed it! Better marketing and drop the Wii name, then we might have something. How about it called the Game U, and make the big focus on the game pad its remote play feature. That was really transformative in hindsight. The one just released for PS5 is trash by comparison. Unfortunately Nintendo doubled down on the gimmick aspect, and the rest is history.

@HalBailman Nintendo wanted to keep "Wii" in the name as it was such a big brand. They could have done this and marketed it better as a new system.

@riggah Like I said initially, there was fatigue over the Wii concept. Nintendo went for gimmick 2.0 and misread the market. Could a different marketing strategy changed matters? Perhaps. We'll never know. All I know is the system stunk, I had no interest, and thankfully the 3DS was around for my Nintendo fix.

I bet the PS2 had a lot of substantial price cuts to drive sales. The switch hasnt had even one. That being said, the switch has a much larger pool of potential customers than the PS2 did

@IronMan30 yep they didn't take into account digital sales of the 360, etc etc etc...

Easily my favourite console ever made. Game library is astounding and the hybrid design is one of the best things to happen in gaming for me period. I don’t think I will buy a standard console like a PS5 again, just Switch (2) and Steam Deck/handheld PCs from here on out, too much freedom to go back.

PS2 was genius because it played DVD's in a time when DVD players were new and pricey. Switch is genius for being hybrid. But will it be able to push another 23-25 mill to become the all time best selling console? Maybe. A price cut would help though.

This means the 360 sold more in the US than the Wii did? Interesting! I would not have guessed that despite living here.

I would love to see a total sales comparison between all consoles from the highest to the lowest.

Surprised it hadn't already surpassed the 360, honestly.

Then again...there was a LOT of RROD 360's. And I do mean a lot. Some people playing in non-optimal operating conditions went through them like candy, but kept buying more, as it was the preferred portal for playing the trendiest games of the time (mostly Halo and Call of Duty, here in the US).

And unlike the PS2 (which also had significant issues with its launch models, in the form of failing disc drives), it took years rather than months to more or less finally put a stop to the 360's hardware failures with revisions.

All the more reason to keep making Switch games rather than a new console we don't need.

2026 or later.

@Wilforce this is specifically US unit sales, I believe the numbers you refer to are global unit sales. That's why this is news today because some consoles are more popular in certain territories

@wrath7007 That's fair and I agree from an emotional perspective, but all the records care about is numbers. That being said if switch can be found in the wild for a few years after the successor they may still beat out Ps2 numbers that way. The library is massive and imo so long as the eshop is up it is a great solo system for an older child (8 years old and up imo) so I could see parents buying that and many games on discount to pad out a growing child's gaming library. Reminds me of the old Katt Williams joke where he offers to buy his child either a N64 lot with a number of used games or the newest system at the time with like one or two games, and the kid chose the larger game library. I don't know if kids are like that now but that is how I would pick as well.

@Otoemetry Thanks for breaking that down. Speed reading is fine, but can be sometimes overlook fine details.

@Euler It’s not going to be viable for third parties to bring games over that are targeting more powerful hardware so support will dwindle more and more as time goes on (even games like the new Mana game which would have typically been a lock for Switch are skipping it). Nintendo’s most ambitious efforts are hitting the ceiling of what the Switch can do now too with Bayonetta 3 struggling at times and TotK having rocky performance (amazing for the hardware but it’s clearly pushing it as far as it can go). It’s like saying we didn’t need a PS3 in 2006 because the PS2 had sold so well.

It’s been nearly 7 years. Incredible run with still stuff to look forward to but it’s high time for an upgrade.

@nimnio To be fair, the Nintendo 64 "gimmick" was that it was Nintendo's first foray in to 3D gaming AND it was the first console to have four player multiplayer built-in natively without the need for an adapter. The N64 was a TRUE multiplayer machine (& my first home console growing up as I only had a Game Gear and a Game Boy up to that point) and it holds a special place in my heart for that reason. The GameCube's "gimmick" was that it ditched cartridges in favour of a proprietary mini-DVD system. Still loved the system and I will defend Starfox Adventures with my dying breath.

@Euler I would say 2026 is too late. By then 3rd parties will have totally moved on (especially as PS4 support is dropping off) and it isn’t feasible nor a good idea for Nintendo to try to prop up 2 years on first party output alone. I don’t expect the successor until 2025, but momentum and some (not all) third party buy is key to start cycling switch owners that have been in the ecosystem longer (launch to year 2) to the new system. As those users will push initial word of mouth and spark the new install base.

The Switch is a fantastic system with a brilliant library, my second favourite console behind the SNES, and I've had all of Nintendo's home consoles. With it still doing so well sales wise I wonder if Switch 2 might be pushed back from a likely Winter 2024 launch to Spring 2025 though?

8 years with one platform dominating the industry, what a feat that would be for Nintendo, especially coming straight after the dismal failure that the Wii U was.

@DarthFoxMcCloud @nimnio The N64 "Gimmick" Was the analog stick. I guess also that three handled controller thing, but honestly the analog stick was THE thing. So much so that Sony copied it and revised their controller for the Playstation.

I'd say the Gamecube was pretty much Gimmick free.

Well deserved and I hope they keep the switch formula for their next console…

@Edd-O That’s what scares me about their next console. Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony have shown major hubris the generation after they’ve been massively successful and brought their A games only after failure. I hope they don’t mess the next one up by thinking they’re infallible after the Switch did so well

@HalBailman The system didn't stink.
It didn't have many games, the games it did have were good.

@larryisaman Not at all. Many consider the SNES to be Nintendo's best console of all time, and it was the follow up to the massively successful NES. The idea that Nintendo only brings their "A game" after failure is completely false.

I just wonder how they hoped to overtake the DS if they move on to a whole new Switch system. Unless the next Switch is still going to be considered a part of this family of Switch's... 🤷‍♂️

@FirstEmperor That was very early on in “console wars” terms. I’m talking SNES into N64, PS2 into PS3, 360 into Xbox One , Wii
to Wii U. All examples of companies thinking they can do what they want because of past success and ultimately failing, at least in comparison to the competition.

@TotalHenshin HW failures and sunken cost. I am on my 8th 360. And I bought 3 of them new. My launch wii still works perfectly fine.

@riggah The Wii U did stink. It stunk so bad that all its best games wanted a new life on the Switch to get away from the stench! 🤣😛

@larryisaman ToTK runs well and sold lots of units. Super Mario Bros. Wonder runs well and sold lots of units. Hogwarts Legacy runs well and sold lots of units. Third parties are a small percentage of Nintendo's software sales, but if there is money to be made they will find a way to make it work on a platform with 132,000,000 potential users (and counting). Hardware sales are even less profitable, and only 4 of Nintendo's 7 home consoles were actually successful.

And all these numbers while still in production only 7 years to do this? That in itself is a feat to do such sales figures. And the software only helps to fuel more Switch console sales.

@Euler Presumably you're counting the N64 as one of the 3 'unsuccessful' Nintendo home consoles? 33 million consoles sold is very similar numbers to the Mega Drive/Genesis and Atari 2600-no one thinks of them as failures.

I think the N64 suffers because the PS1 was such a sales behemoth, selling 102 million and broadening the appeal of home consoles so that they were no longer just seen as kids' toys.

@Zidentia I think my favourite is 3DS, then Switch then GameCube, then N64

They could bring out their next console any time they want but they need to keep the Switch around for two more years to clear out remaining stocks and give those who are not ready for next gen yet an honest good-bye. Like Breath of the Wild, they could make Metroid Prime 4 both a Switch swansong and a launch title for their next console.

@Wilforce I think its supposed to be US sales only

We all here have to take a step back and consider this is about lifetime sales (no longer in production consoles) vs current active sales. Considering factor it's just amazing how fast the Switch sold in 7 years of production starting in 2017 from v1, v2, OLED models along with the Lite.

@ninty_junkie77 wii was much more successful than snes.

@BFahey3 Doesn't look like anyone replied to this. But:

United States:
DS = 51,100,000 (last reported 2009)
PS2 = 46,400,000 (last reported 2013)
NX = >38,800,000
360 = 38,800,000 (last reported 2013)

Any times people compare No longer sold consoles Lifetime sales to Active selling consoles for number comparisons it's like Apples to Oranges. Numbers are good but must be current sales figures not LifeTime Sales vs On-Going sales numbers to reflective actually figures.

@electrolite77 I think Wii U had too many "features". With switch can easily say portable/hybrid and people get it.
With the Wii it was motion.

@Coalescence Errr...you do know in the US, the DS crushes the PS2 right? Euro is where it falls short.

@electrolite77 I was never confused at the messaging of the Wii U. I think it was largely that it came way too late and was overpriced that got to me. I remember hearing the price and was gulping and felt my heart sank. I ended up buying a Wii U near the end of life (2015/16, I think) and basically didn't get around to using it much and that was only because it was hugely discounted at Big W for like AUD$140 or something like that. Most people had moved on then NX project by then which turned out to be true and was the Switch.

Edit: If it had just been a HD GamePad by itself that connected to the Wii and WiiMotes, I bet it would have sold a lot more cause I think that's what people wanted it to be. It also is the first modern console to introduce co-current of a Pro and Standard model that the Series S | X and Xbox One S and X now did/do.

@TanukiTrooper Yeah. Most people do not know the DS was way ahead of the PS2 in the US. Region wise, it was closer but PS2 is also similarly strong in European, a territory Nintendo also weak in.

@ninty_junkie77 THIS! I've actually looked into it and if you considered 3DS-WiiU sales as part of the same gen, DS/Wii is still much stronger so its actually a slight decline for Nintendo.
255,650,000 DS/Wii were sold compared to 225,450,000 3DS/WiiU-Switch. (11% decline but Switch still selling). However, they're essentially selling 3x the hardware at a higher price too so more money is earnt. Just that life is shorter for a lot of them.

Edit: Sony and Microsoft strongest gen was also the 7th. 169,400,000 PS3/PSP sold and 84,000,000 X360 sold compared to 116,000,000 PS4/PSV vs 51,000,000 XBO. A 40% decline for Xbox and 32% for PlayStation.

Edit 2: There's also a lot more overlap during that gen so we could say the 7th Gen is the strongest gen by far. It lasted 13 years (2004-2017) with the 8th standing so far for 11 (2012-Now) and 6th lasting 15 (1998-2013). However, sales wise, it remains the highest with more competitors old and new online.

Edit 3: If Nintendo Switch is to become the best selling console of all time (About 20m needed at this point), it mean they come close to defying market expectations which has shown a pretty steep decline for the other two. It's still about 10 million off from beating DS/Wii numbers but it is doing well. So depending on how you look at it, Nintendo is simultaneously strong and weak. lol

@electrolite77 @riggah I was nearly tempted to buy a Wii U at the end of its cycle, especially with the announcement of Star Fox Zero and, ironically, the Virtual Console feature was already really appealing. The plan was to get it with Mario Kart 8 included, and then I read the reviews that Star Fox Zero was essentially ruined by incorporating a daft control scheme, so that was the end of it. I tried to get a friend to buy the game, and he refused. Then I said I'll buy one for his birthday, and he said No. Since then I've been hoping Nintendo rework the game and release it for the Switch! No luck there either.

@wrath7007 You are correct that the Switch is a little bit ahead of the pace of the PS2, so it is beating it in that regard. We'll have to see if Switch sales can be sustained as long or if they drop off as many consoles do. The flip side is that the PS2 wasn't available in as many regions as the Switch is, which was a sign of the times. It's hard to account for that, but one could argue that the PS2's numbers would still be more impressive. But there are many other variables like computers, smartphones etc, so it will never be a direct comparison. It's interesting to think about though.

@larryisaman So NES/SNES is "very early on" but SNES/N64 isn't? I can't think of any reason besides confirmation bias that you would pick 1990 as a cutoff point, but if you want a more recent example of a company bringing their "A game" after a success, there's pretty much all of Nintendo's handhelds and the PS2 was the follow up to the massively successful PS1.

Also, most of the consoles you mentioned were moderate successes (N64, PS3, XB1). The only real failures were the GC and WiiU.

@nimnio While I do agree with you at least for Japan in other regions it's starting to fall far faster. Plus the first party line up next year doesn't scream GotY material. They seems to be buying time with next year's line-up and they better not wait too long is all I'm saying. They dragged out the Wii for about 2 years.

@TanukiTrooper thanks for the update. So it still has a ways to go to dethrone the DS.