Nintendo Switch 2 Makes History Thanks To Epic Milestone
The Nintendo Switch 2 is the fastest-selling console of all time. Debuting back in June, Nintendo's latest hardware has seen a lot of scrutiny for its launch window slate. Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza were both hits, but the wait for a new 3D Super Mario is growing long, and the original Switch's simultaneous release with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild set a high bar. A comparatively lackluster lineup hasn't slowed the Switch 2's success, though. Nintendo updated its sales data through the end of 2025, bringing the Switch 2's hardware sales up to 17.37 million units. This makes it the fastest-selling Nintendo console ever, with the manufacturer expecting to exceed 19 million by the end of March 2026, per Variety.
Original Switch Sets Nintendo Record As It’s Outpaced By Switch 2
A Nintendo Switch console next to Joy-Cons.
While the Switch 2's early success is more important for Nintendo's immediate outlook, the new console's predecessor has just set an incredible record. The original Switch is Nintendo's best-selling console ever, with its new total of 155.37 million units sold having now exceeded the DS's lifetime sales of 154.02 million. Perhaps even more astounding, 1.5 trillion games have been sold for the Switch.
Sony still claims to have the best-selling console of all time, with the PlayStation 2's lifetime sales exceeding 160 million. The Switch is now in second place.
With the Switch 2 being Nintendo's fastest-selling console, it is technically on pace to dethrone the Switch as Nintendo's best-selling as well. Whether it will actually accomplish this feat remains to be seen; we likely won't know until nearly a decade from now. As for game sales, the Switch 2 has already put up an impressive 37.93 million, 14 million of which were Mario Kart World, with another 4.25 million coming courtesy of Donkey Kong Bananza.
What This Could Mean For Switch 2 Games
Nintendo Switch 2 logo on a red background.
Unless you're a Nintendo executive or a stock-holder, hardware sales understandably might not be meaningful for you. The consumer-facing implication for such success, though, is potentially better third-party support. Nintendo has reiterated that "A wide range of [Switch 2] titles are also planned for release by other software publishers," but proof of a large customer base will continue to be enticing for games not published by Nintendo.
Cyberpunk 2077's nearly perfect port is an early indicator that the Switch 2's third-party support may be better than its predecessor, and playing Civilization 7 with mouse controls has convinced me that Nintendo's latest can become a destination for strategy games. Nintendo has clearly hit on a winning formula by combining the benefits of home and portable console gaming into one device. The Nintendo Switch 2 is posting blistering sales numbers, while its predecessor sets an astounding record – we're truly in the midst of a Nintendo golden age.
