Nintendo Switch Sales Reach New Heights Amidst Industry Shifts

Nintendo has released its latest financial report, revealing that the Nintendo Switch has now sold an impressive 150.86 million units worldwide as of December 31. This figure accounts for all versions of the console, including the standard model, Switch Lite, and the OLED edition. Meanwhile, total game sales for the system have climbed to 1.359 billion units.

Despite these milestones, hardware sales have seen a decline of 30.6% compared to the same period last year, with 9.54 million units sold during the first three quarters of the fiscal year. Breaking it down, the OLED model accounted for the majority of sales at 5.07 million units, followed by the standard model at 2.74 million and the Switch Lite at 1.73 million. Software sales also experienced a dip, decreasing by 24.4%.

Nintendo's most recent game releases have contributed significantly to overall software sales. Super Mario Party Jamboree has already reached 6.17 million copies sold, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom has amassed 3.91 million copies, and Mario & Luigi: Brothership has moved 1.84 million units. Meanwhile, the best-selling Switch game to date remains Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, with a staggering 67.35 million copies sold, followed by Animal Crossing: New Horizons at 47.44 million.

Financially, Nintendo reported net sales of 956.2 billion yen (approximately $6.19 billion), marking a 31.4% decrease from the previous year. The company's operating profit came in at 247.5 billion yen ($2.6 billion), with an ordinary profit of 327.1 billion yen ($2.11 billion) and a net profit of 237.1 billion yen ($1.53 billion).

Originally launched in March 2017, the Switch has cemented its place as the third best-selling console of all time, surpassing both the PlayStation 4 and Game Boy/Game Boy Color. Only the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS have sold more units.

Looking ahead, Nintendo officially announced the successor to the Switch on January 16. The upcoming Switch 2 is expected to feature a larger design, an improved kickstand with more adjustable angles, and backward compatibility with current Switch games alongside its own exclusive titles. More details will be shared during Nintendo’s special showcase, “Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 – 4.2.2025,” scheduled for April 2.