Nintendo Switch Sales Decline as Anticipation Builds for Next-Gen Console

The Nintendo Switch has held its place as the second best-selling console for the company, though its hardware sales are starting to decline. Over time, the handheld hybrid console has amassed sales surpassing 143 million units.

This information comes from Nintendo's financial results for the first quarter of the 2024-2025 financial year. By June 30, 2024, the total units sold reach 143.42 million across all versions: the original, Lite, and OLED models.

There are evident signs of reducing hardware sales. In May, the company had recorded 141.32 million sales, but by the end of June, only an additional 2.1 million systems were sold. This represents a 46.3% decrease compared to the same period last year.

The decline is not isolated to hardware; game sales also reflect a similar trend. Between April 1 and June 30, 2024, 30.64 million game units were sold, marking a 41.3% drop year-over-year.

Despite these declines, the Nintendo Switch remains the company's second most successful console. The top spot goes to the Nintendo DS, which achieved around 154 million sales. In the broader market, only the PlayStation 2 stands ahead, with lifetime sales estimated between 155 to 160 million units.

The dip in sales is a typical phase in a console's lifespan, especially as its successor approaches. The next console, tentatively called the Nintendo Switch 2, is anticipated to release in 2025. However, Nintendo has not provided any official announcements yet. It's also confirmed that Nintendo will not be participating in Gamescom 2024, meaning any news about the new console will likely be delayed.