Nintendo Switch Nears 140 Million Sales, Still Trails PlayStation 2’s Record-Breaking Milestone

Nintendo Switch Nears 140 Million Sales, Still Trails PlayStation 2’s Record-Breaking Milestone Since its launch in March 2017, the Nintendo Switch has rapidly ascended to the upper tiers of gaming hardware history, evolving into one of the company’s greatest successes.

In February 2024, Nintendo officially announced that the Switch family of consoles had surpassed 139 million units sold worldwide, reinforcing its dominance in the industry and outperforming most of its competitors. Recent industry analysis and continued momentum suggest that Nintendo Switch sales have likely exceeded 140 million units as of early April 2024.

The hybrid console continues to attract new audiences through first-party hits, a robust digital eShop, and regular feature updates delivered via Nintendo Direct presentations.

This outstanding performance has thrust the Switch into the spotlight as it approaches the sales record long-held by Sony's PlayStation 2. However, new data revealed by former PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan has shifted the narrative in the ongoing best-selling console race.

Speaking on the Official PlayStation Podcast upon his retirement on April 1, 2024, Ryan clarified the enduring legacy of Sony’s iconic PS2.

Contrary to the widely cited figure of 155 million units, Ryan stated that the PlayStation 2’s real lifetime sales are closer to 160 million units, referencing internal company records (source: VGC).

This adjustment means the Nintendo Switch still trails the PS2 by a substantial 20 million units, making the industry’s biggest record a tougher goal than previously assumed. The PlayStation 2, renowned for its remarkable longevity, launched in March 2000 and continued production until 2013—an impressive 13-year lifespan.

Sony officially ceased reporting sales figures in 2012, but ongoing global demand added several million more units in its final years on the market. By contrast, the Nintendo Switch, at just over 7 years old, still maintains impressive sales velocity.

Should Nintendo choose to keep manufacturing the Switch as an affordable entry model once its next-generation console arrives, reaching the 160-million-unit milestone remains possible.

Yet, whether the Switch ultimately surpasses the PS2 may prove secondary to Nintendo itself, which already rebounded spectacularly from the Wii U era and cemented its place among the industry’s elite. The console sales race underscores the fierce innovation and competitiveness across the gaming hardware sector.

For industry-watchers and fans, the progress of Nintendo Switch against the PlayStation 2 remains an unprecedented testament to both companies’ legacies and to the evolving preferences of a global gaming audience.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo PlayStation Milestone Switch PS2 PlayStation 2 console Sony Jim Ryan VGC Wii U