Switch Sales Slow as Launch of Switch 2 Approaches

The Nintendo Switch has been nothing short of a phenomenal success story, but every good run eventually hits its twilight. As the beloved hybrid console edges towards its eighth year, Nintendo recently reported a 30% dip in hardware sales compared to the prior year, with game sales also seeing a reduction of 24%. This downturn prompted Nintendo to adjust its sales forecast for the second consecutive quarter. The company now projects sales of 11 million units in the current fiscal year, ending March 31, down from the previously anticipated 13.5 million. They’ve also scaled back expectations for this year’s profits.

The decline in numbers isn’t exactly a head-scratcher. Even though Nintendo kept the lid on the much-anticipated Switch 2 for as long as possible, it’s been clear for some time that the Switch was cruising towards the end of its journey. An eight-year run is impressive in the gaming console world, but the whispers and leaks about the Switch 2 have been making rounds for a while. Meanwhile, the software support for the original Switch has noticeably dwindled.

However, let’s not let the recent sales slump overshadow the Switch’s towering achievement. Nintendo has sold a staggering 150.86 million Switch consoles, almost catching up with the 154 million units sold of the Nintendo DS, which ranks as the second-best-selling gaming device ever. Despite the impending debut of the Switch 2, it’s highly likely that the Switch will surpass that number this year, marking it as Nintendo’s most triumphant console.

Surpassing the PlayStation 2’s legendary sales record of over 160 million units would crown the Switch as the best-selling console of all time. That particular victory might be a stretch, but it’s certainly a testament to the Switch’s remarkable legacy in gaming history.