Nintendo Switch surpasses DS as best-selling console ever

Nintendo's latest financial report reveals the original Switch has become the company's top-selling console, overtaking the DS with 155.37 million units sold. The Switch 2, launched in June 2025, has achieved 17.37 million sales in its first six months, marking the fastest start for any Nintendo platform. Software sales show strong performance, though the lineup lacks a massive blockbuster.

Nintendo released its financial results for the first nine months of fiscal year 2026, covering April 1 to December 31, 2025. During this period, the original Nintendo Switch sold 3.25 million units, pushing its lifetime total to 155.37 million. This surpasses the Nintendo DS's 154.02 million units as of the same date, making the Switch Nintendo's best-selling console ever. It ranks second overall, behind the PlayStation 2's 160 million units confirmed in 2024.

The Switch 2, released in June 2025, has sold 17.37 million units to date, described by Nintendo as having a "good start." It outperforms the original Switch's launch window by nearly two to one, benefiting from the holiday season inclusion. Digital sales on the platform rose 14.7 percent year-over-year, with 58.7 percent of packaged software sold as downloads during the 2025 holidays.

Key software titles include Mario Kart World at 14.03 million units (including bundles), Donkey Kong Bananza at 4.25 million, Pokémon Legends: Z-A Nintendo Switch 2 Edition at 3.89 million, and Kirby Air Riders at 1.76 million. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, launched in December 2025, did not appear in sales charts, suggesting fewer than 1 million units sold across platforms. Overall software attach rates are lower than the original Switch's first year, partly due to backward compatibility.

Annual playing users dipped slightly to 129 million from 130 million in 2024, indicating the Switch 2 has converted existing players without expanding the user base significantly. Upcoming releases include Mario Tennis Fever in February 2026, featuring 38 characters and new modes, and Pokémon Pokopia in March.

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Nintendo announced it will increase the price of the Switch 2 console by $50 starting September 1 in the US. The move affects the base model amid rising component costs and follows similar adjustments in other markets.

Nintendo announced its financial results for the period ending March 31, 2026, revealing strong initial sales for the Switch 2. The console has sold 19.86 million units worldwide since its launch last June, along with 48.71 million software units. Despite the success, the company has reduced its sales outlook for the next year.

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Nintendo is reducing production of its Switch 2 console by a third this quarter, from six million to four million units, following disappointing holiday sales in the United States. The move comes despite a strong launch, with sales now lagging behind expectations amid a thin software lineup. Shares in the company fell 6.3 percent in Tokyo after the news broke.

Nintendo has reported that the re-releases of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen achieved combined global sales exceeding 4 million units in their first six weeks on sale. The original Game Boy Advance versions sold 12 million copies in total. The news comes amid some launch controversy over pricing and added features.

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Polygon has released an updated roundup of the best games for the Nintendo Switch 2, highlighting titles such as Mario Kart World and Mario Tennis Fever. The list, published on February 16, 2026, offers recommendations for players on the new console.

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