I'm a skeptic about slapping the number two next to a product's name and calling it new. It often sounds to me like an easy way of grabbing consumers' attention to what is, essentially, a mere upgrade to something we already have. Turns out that even if it's cheap, it works, as proven by the Nintendo Switch 2 sales numbers.
Nintendo updated the Switch 2 worldwide sales numbers through Sept. 30, and the console had 10.36 million units sold since its release on June 5. A little over half of these sales happened in June alone, with 5.8 million units sold, and the other 4.5 million were sold between August and September.
If the Nintendo Switch 2 continues selling its current average of 1.5 million units per month, it should reach the Wii U's lifetime 13.5 million consoles sold this December. Not only does this sound completely reasonable, but Christmas will likely boost the Switch 2 sales further, since Nintendo saw its Switch 1 sales double in the last quarter of 2024. This Christmas boost could happen with the Switch 2 if consumers decide the console is the perfect gift, which would make the Switch 2 beat the Wii U lifetime sales in just seven months.
In a world where handheld PCs like the Steam Deck and the Rog Ally can run most third-party games on the go, it's interesting to see the Switch 2 selling so well. But the console is a great solution for casual gamers who want hardware that can run many of the games released in the last five years while also having the usual Mario, Pokémon, and Zelda games that other platforms will never have.
The Wii U's high price point, confusing tablet controls, and limited game lineup led to poor sales, making it Nintendo's biggest flop. The Switch 2 being on track to sell more than the Wii U ever sold doesn't mean it's a commercial success, but it means it's about to pass the threshold of a disastrous launch. Soon, we'll be able to say that the Switch 2 launch was definitely not a failure.
The post Nintendo Switch 2 is already on pace to demolish Wii U’s lifetime sales – here’s how many it’s sold appeared first on Destructoid.
