Nintendo's Iconic Console Reigns Supreme: Switch Surpasses DS as Best-Selling Consoles of All Time.
The Switch has officially dethroned the DS as Nintendo's best-selling console, with a staggering 155.37 million units sold as of December 31, 2025. This remarkable milestone marks a major victory for Nintendo in the ever-evolving gaming landscape. The company attributes this impressive achievement to a holiday surge that saw the Switch 2 unit sales soar to unprecedented heights.
The Switch 2 has proven to be an instant success story, with seven million units sold during the same period and another seventeen million through Q3 of its fiscal year. This phenomenal performance not only solidifies Nintendo's position as a gaming giant but also cements the Switch 2 as one of the fastest-selling dedicated video platforms released by the company.
Despite being recently surpassed by the Switch 2, the original Switch continues to sell well, with 1.36 million units sold in Q3 fiscal 2026. Its relatively affordable price has contributed significantly to this steady sales stream. However, it remains a distant second behind the Switch 2, with over four and a half million units still needed to surpass Sony's iconic PlayStation 2 as the best-selling console of all time.
Nintendo's financial performance also demonstrates the console's staying power. The company reported an impressive 803.32 billion yen in sales for Q3 ($5.2 billion), up 86 percent from last year, and a significant increase in profit to 159.93 billion yen (1.03 billion). This success can be attributed to the strong performance of popular titles like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, which have contributed substantially to Nintendo's revenue.
The company is now gearing up for another successful quarter with highly anticipated releases such as Mario Tennis Fever on February 12th and Pokรฉmon Pokopia in March. With this promising game lineup, Nintendo looks poised to maintain its momentum and continue its dominance in the gaming industry.
The Switch has officially dethroned the DS as Nintendo's best-selling console, with a staggering 155.37 million units sold as of December 31, 2025. This remarkable milestone marks a major victory for Nintendo in the ever-evolving gaming landscape. The company attributes this impressive achievement to a holiday surge that saw the Switch 2 unit sales soar to unprecedented heights.
The Switch 2 has proven to be an instant success story, with seven million units sold during the same period and another seventeen million through Q3 of its fiscal year. This phenomenal performance not only solidifies Nintendo's position as a gaming giant but also cements the Switch 2 as one of the fastest-selling dedicated video platforms released by the company.
Despite being recently surpassed by the Switch 2, the original Switch continues to sell well, with 1.36 million units sold in Q3 fiscal 2026. Its relatively affordable price has contributed significantly to this steady sales stream. However, it remains a distant second behind the Switch 2, with over four and a half million units still needed to surpass Sony's iconic PlayStation 2 as the best-selling console of all time.
Nintendo's financial performance also demonstrates the console's staying power. The company reported an impressive 803.32 billion yen in sales for Q3 ($5.2 billion), up 86 percent from last year, and a significant increase in profit to 159.93 billion yen (1.03 billion). This success can be attributed to the strong performance of popular titles like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, which have contributed substantially to Nintendo's revenue.
The company is now gearing up for another successful quarter with highly anticipated releases such as Mario Tennis Fever on February 12th and Pokรฉmon Pokopia in March. With this promising game lineup, Nintendo looks poised to maintain its momentum and continue its dominance in the gaming industry.