According to GameSpot, the Nintendo Switch has reached 154.01 million units sold as of September 30, putting it just 10,000 units away from surpassing the Nintendo DS’s lifetime total of 154.02 million. Analyst Daniel Ahmad believes the Switch “probably not” will catch the PlayStation 2’s all-time record of 160 million units. The original Switch sold 4.72 million units in the six-month period ending September 30, but that represents a 60% decline compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, the Switch 2 has sold 10.36 million units in its first four months, making it the fastest-selling console ever during that timeframe. Nintendo has downgraded its original Switch sales forecast for the current fiscal year from 4.5 million to 4 million units.
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The Inevitable DS Overtake
Here’s the thing – the Switch has already passed the DS. Nintendo‘s numbers run through September 30, and we’re already well into November. That 10,000 unit gap? It’s basically nothing in console sales terms. We’re talking about what Nintendo probably sells in a single day during the holiday season. The real question is why Nintendo hasn’t officially announced this milestone yet. Maybe they’re waiting for the perfect marketing moment, or perhaps they want to bundle the announcement with something bigger. Either way, the Switch becoming Nintendo’s best-selling platform ever is already a done deal.
The PS2 Mountain
But catching the PlayStation 2? That’s a whole different ball game. Daniel Ahmad’s skepticism makes complete sense when you look at the numbers. The Switch needs to sell another 6 million units to match the PS2’s 160 million record. With the original model’s sales collapsing 60% year-over-year and Nintendo actively pushing everyone toward the Switch 2, where are those 6 million sales going to come from? The original Switch is clearly in its twilight years, and the Switch 2 sales, while impressive, are counted separately. Basically, we’re looking at two different products trying to chase one record.
The Switch 2 Factor
Now, the Switch 2’s performance is genuinely remarkable. Selling 10.36 million units in its first four months beats every major console launch in history – including the PS5, PS4, Wii, and even the original Switch. But as Ahmad points out, that record-breaking pace will inevitably slow down. The early adopters have bought in, and now the console faces the real test: maintaining momentum through its first full year. Can it keep this up when the initial excitement wears off? That’s the billion-dollar question.
Nintendo’s Delicate Balance
What’s really interesting here is how Nintendo is managing this transition. They’re downgrading original Switch expectations while simultaneously upgrading Switch 2 projections from 15 million to 19 million for the fiscal year. They’re clearly trying to phase out the old model without completely killing its sales. But let’s be honest – a 60% sales drop is pretty brutal. It shows that most people who want a Switch already have one, and those who don’t are waiting for the new model. The original Switch had an incredible run, but its time is clearly ending. And honestly, passing the DS is still one hell of an achievement, even if the PS2 remains out of reach.
