After a not-so-great December, Switch 2 is finally back on top. The handheld has now sold 17.37 million units worldwide since launch, and, when combined with the original Switch, the platform’s total lifetime sales have surpassed those of the Nintendo DS, which is known as one of the best-selling consoles of all time.
The entire Switch lineup, including the original, the Switch Lite, and the new Switch 2, has quietly stacked up sales over the years and has now managed to become Nintendo’s most successful series of consoles.
Global Sales Figures And Milestones
Nintendo’s hardware sales figures, as reported, show a compelling picture:
- Nintendo Switch 2: 17.37 million units sold worldwide since launch.
- Nintendo Switch family total: Over 155.37 million units sold, pushing past the lifetime sales of the Nintendo DS.
The original Nintendo DS previously held the record as one of the best-selling consoles of all time, distinguished by its dual-screen design and massive game library. Surpassing its sales total cements the Switch family’s status among the most successful gaming platforms ever released.
The performance is commendable given Switch’s hybrid nature and Nintendo’s traditional limited cross-platform compatibility. The original Switch and Switch Lite were already successful enough before Switch 2 was released. The Switch 2 just pushed that number to leaps and beyond in 2025. And, if history is anything to go by, then one can only expect those numbers to grow exponentially in 2026.
What This Means For Nintendo
These numbers come at a time when console competition is tightening globally. Sony and Microsoft continue to push their respective current-generation system. We are already seeing these platforms release their exclusives on other platforms. Nintendo, on the other hand, is still keeping its exclusives locked. But the numbers suggest consumers don’t care about that and would still go for a Switch purely for the ecosystem and games it offers.
Hitting more than 17 million sales for Switch 2 so early in its life suggests continued consumer support for Nintendo’s hardware approach. It also gives the company a firmer foundation for its software lineup, which includes both first-party franchises and a growing roster of third-party support on Switch 2.
