The gargantuan sales of theNintendo Switchhave made the console a fierce competitor to the PlayStation 2. The Switch’s revolutionary hybrid technology and library of groundbreaking first-party titles has given Nintendo yet another opportunity for the company to claim the title of the best-selling console of all time. However, a recent revelation may have jeopardized the Switch’s chances of sitting on the throne.
Sony recently updated the PS2’s lifetime sales,putting the console almost 15 million units ahead of the Switch. This is certainly a setback for Nintendo in its quest to claim the crown from its rival. However, hope isn’t lost for the Switch. The console still has a chance to outsell the PS2, and if the future plans for the Switch are anything to go by, Nintendo will do everything in its power to ensure its device comes out on top.
Why The Nintendo Switch Might Outsell The PlayStation 2
The Switch Has A Huge Year Ahead
The Switch has a chance of outselling the PS2 – which has now shipped a total of 160 million units since its launch in 2000, according toSony– as the console looks to go out with a bang.The current Switch lineup for 2025 is filled with huge releases to entice the players without the console to get their hands on one, starting withremasters for bothDonkey Kong Country ReturnsandXenoblade Chronicles X. These releases are huge steps to making the Switch more appealing as it reaches the end of its life cycle, by making the entirety of both theDonkey Kong CountryandXenoblade Chroniclesseries available on a single console, adding to the console’s already stellar library.
That’s not even mentioning the new releases that will surely boost the Switch’s chances of outselling the PS2. 2025 will see the release of bothPokémon Legends: Z-Aand thelong-awaitedMetroid Prime 4: Beyondon the Switch.Both titles are huge releases in their own right, and players will be enticed to pick up a Switch to experience these games as soon as possible.
It’s clear that Nintendo simply isn’t content with the Switch quietly fading into the background as its successor gears up for launch. The multitude of major releases is a way for the company to prove to consumers that there’s still worth and value to investing in a Switch, as it consistently delivers quality game after quality game. If anything,it’ll surely be the boost that the Switch needsto have a shot of throwing the PS2 off its throne.
The Switch Will Continue To Sell After The Switch 2 Releases
A Price Decrease Will Help Sales Continue
While the Switch 2 will certainly affect the sales of the Switch,that doesn’t mean the console will stop selling entirely. The PS2 itself is proof of this fact. The console’s current total of units sold is 10 million more than the last report back in 2011, when the PS3 had already been out for several years. It may not be the latest Nintendo console on the market for much longer, but its huge library and continued support going into 2025 still makes the Switch a worthwhile purchase.
Of course, there are some factors that could ensure the Switch’s relevancy as it overlaps with the new console. Cross-gen releases remain incredibly common, which would make the Switch a cheaper option to play new titles, even if it’s not as high quality as the Switch 2. But ultimately, the Switch’s legacy, much like the PS2, will likely speak for itself. Even with a new product on the market, theNintendo Switchremains an innovative console and a huge influence on the industry as a whole. This fact alone makes the Switch Nintendo’s best shot at claiming the title of the best-selling console of all time.
