Switch Sales Slow as Anticipation Builds for Switch 2 Launch

The Nintendo Switch has been a remarkable success story, but, as with all great things, it couldn’t go on indefinitely. With the console nearing its eighth anniversary, Nintendo has reported a significant drop in sales – a 30% decline in hardware and a 24% decrease in game sales compared to last year. Consequently, they’ve adjusted their sales forecast for the second consecutive quarter. The expectation has shifted downwards; Nintendo now anticipates selling 11 million Switch units in this fiscal year, concluding on March 31, a decrease from the earlier projection of 13.5 million. Additionally, they’ve lowered their profit expectations for the year.

The reasons behind these dwindling numbers are pretty straightforward. Even though Nintendo delayed announcing the Switch 2 for as long as possible, it’s been clear for quite some time that the life cycle of the Switch was winding down. Eight years is a lengthy duration for any gaming console, and with numerous leaks and rumors circulating about the Switch 2, it seems Nintendo has been holding back on new software for the current Switch.

Nevertheless, this downturn in sales doesn’t overshadow the Switch’s monumental achievements throughout its lifetime. To date, Nintendo has sold 150.86 million units of the Switch, coming close to matching the Nintendo DS, which sold 154 million units and ranks as the second-best-selling gaming device of all time. Considering the looming release of the Switch 2, it’s highly likely the Switch will surpass this number within the year, potentially earning the title of Nintendo’s most successful console ever.

However, to claim the top spot as the best-selling console in history, the Switch would need to outdo the PlayStation 2’s impressive sales record of over 160 million units. Achieving that is probably a stretch, but it’s tantalizingly close.