Nintendo Switch 2 Surpasses 10 Million Units Sold in 2025
Nintendo’s Switch 2 console reached 10.36 million units sold worldwide since its June launch, establishing it as the fastest-selling hardware in the company’s history for a new generation system. The hybrid portable-home device maintained strong momentum through the holiday period despite broader market challenges. Combined with ongoing sales of the original Switch, Nintendo platforms captured significant share in a year marked by elevated pricing across competitors. VGChartz tracking data confirmed the milestone amid reports of sustained demand for backward-compatible titles.
PlayStation 5 recorded 9.2 million units sold throughout 2025, reflecting steady performance for the five-year-old system. Sony implemented a single price adjustment in August, contributing to average console costs rising 12 percent year-over-year in the U.S. market. The platform benefited from exclusive releases and ecosystem retention, though November saw a shift where PS5 briefly outperformed Switch 2 in monthly U.S. rankings for the first time since the latter’s debut. Circana data highlighted PS5 leading in both units and dollars for that period.
Industry-wide console sales faced headwinds from multiple price increases and economic factors. Microsoft applied two upward adjustments to Xbox Series models, resulting in the steepest declines among major platforms. Total U.S. hardware spending in November reached only $695 million, the lowest for the month in two decades according to Circana metrics. Unit volumes hit 1.6 million nationwide, marking the weakest November since 1995 when competing systems included the original PlayStation and Sega Saturn.
Nintendo’s hybrid design and family-oriented library drove Switch 2 adoption across diverse demographics. The console supported enhanced versions of legacy titles through upscaling technologies, facilitating seamless library transitions. Backward compatibility extended to most original Switch software, preserving access to over 150 million lifetime units sold on the predecessor platform. Analysts noted the device’s portable functionality as a key differentiator in a market increasingly favoring multi-purpose entertainment options.
This performance positioned Nintendo ahead in annual hardware volume despite launching mid-year. The Switch family collectively outperformed rivals in global reach, with the new model accelerating growth in regions previously dominated by mobile gaming. Future updates promise continued software support bridging both generations. Industry observers anticipate sustained demand into 2026 as exclusive titles leverage the upgraded hardware capabilities.
The achievement underscored resilience in dedicated gaming devices amid transitions toward subscription and cross-platform services. Nintendo maintained focus on proprietary hardware as a primary revenue driver. Competitors explored broader ecosystems integrating cloud and PC access to offset traditional unit sales variability. This contrast highlighted evolving strategies within the ninth console generation.
