According to GameSpot, Nintendo just released earnings showing the Switch has sold 154.01 million units as of September 30, putting it just 10,000 units behind the Nintendo DS’s lifetime total of 154.02 million. The Switch has almost certainly already passed this milestone since these numbers are over a month old, but it won’t be official until Nintendo’s next earnings report in February 2026. Meanwhile, analyst Daniel Ahmad believes the Switch “probably not” catch the PlayStation 2’s all-time record of 160 million units. The original Switch’s sales dropped 60% year-over-year to 4.72 million units in the six-month period, while the Switch 2 sold 10.36 million units since its June 2025 launch, making it the fastest-selling console ever in its first four months.
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The DS Record Is Basically Already Broken
Here’s the thing about that 10,000 unit gap – it’s already gone. Nintendo‘s numbers run through September 30, and we’re well into November now. The Switch has definitely sold more than enough consoles in the past month to clear that tiny hurdle. But Nintendo being Nintendo, they won’t make it official until their next scheduled earnings report unless they decide to break tradition and announce it early. The DS had an incredible run, but the Switch’s hybrid design basically created a whole new category that appealed to both home console and portable gamers. It’s a remarkable achievement for a platform that’s now eight years old and still selling millions.
Can The Switch Catch The PS2?
Probably not, and here’s why. The Switch needs to sell another 6 million units to match the PS2’s 160 million record. Nintendo just downgraded their sales forecast for the original Switch from 4.5 million to 4 million units for the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2026. Even if they hit that target, they’d still be 2 million short. And let’s be real – the Switch 2 is where all the momentum is right now. The original model is clearly winding down, with sales dropping 60% compared to the same period last year. As Daniel Ahmad noted, catching the PS2 just doesn’t seem likely at this point.
Switch 2 Is Breaking All The Records
While the original Switch might be slowing down, the Switch 2 is absolutely crushing it. Selling 10.36 million units in just four months is insane – that’s faster than the PS5 (7.8 million), PS4 (7.6 million), Wii (5.8 million), DS (5.3 million), and even the original Switch (4.74 million) managed in their first four months. Nintendo actually upgraded their sales forecast for the Switch 2 from 15 million to 19 million units for the current fiscal year. That’s some serious confidence in their new hardware. The transition between generations appears to be going smoothly, which is crucial for maintaining Nintendo’s momentum.
What This Means For Nintendo
Nintendo finds itself in an interesting position. They’re about to have their best-selling platform ever, but they’re also managing a generational transition where the new console is dramatically outperforming the old one. The Switch 2’s explosive start suggests Nintendo learned from the Wii U missteps and created another hit. But can it sustain this pace? The company is clearly betting big, raising their sales targets significantly. As Ahmad pointed out, the Switch 2’s strong start puts it in a great position, even if the original model falls just short of the PS2’s record. Honestly, being second only to the PS2 in console sales history is still an incredible achievement.
