Nintendo has frequently stated that they want their hybrid console in every home. The latest consolidated financial highlights from Nintendo reveal the Switch is still in the running to be the best-selling console of all time.
Its sales figures surpass what was once Nintendo’s innovative money printer, the DS, which the company claims to have sold over 154 million units of. The Switch is not too far away, having shipped a near unbelievable 139.36 million lifetime units as of December 31, 2023. This makes it one of the best-selling gaming consoles of all time.
Nintendo took what worked with the DS and Game Boy – their portability – but added the ability to turn it into a regular home console. Its Joy-cons also allow for the gimmicky titles Nintendo is known for, such as Ring Fit Adventure and Let’s Go, Pikachu. It seems that Nintendo expects more to pick up the Swithc, too. The company’s modified forecast predicts at least 15.5 million more units.
For comparison, the PlayStation 2 sold an estimate of 158 million or so units, which would presumably hand it the throne when it comes to gaming console sales. It’s no surprise to find Sony’s ubiquitous console at the top of the list because, in its heyday, it was a living room staple and, very conveniently, could play DVDs.
A dandori story
The consolidated financial document goes through more than just hardware; it also delves into the software that keeps the hybrid relevant. When released, Pikmin 4 didn’t cause much hype online, though it has an ardent group of followers who have been waiting years for the release. Sneakily, the game has managed to sell 3.33 million units, according to the latest stats from Nintendo.
Pikmin 4 isn’t the only game discussed. As you can imagine, Tears of the Kingdom has also enjoyed success, moving 20.28 million units. When it comes to software, the open-world Zelda game is one of the most well-performing titles, really only mostly challenged by Animal Crossing, Super Smash Bros, and Mario.
This effect is visible with titles such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which has sold 6.79 million copies in the quarter, bringing it to an incredible 60.58 million units sold overall. We may see even more sales numbers yet again from the Mario side, when Princess Peach: Showtime is released in March.
As someone who thoroughly enjoyed Pikmin 4, the sales numbers are very pleasing as it increases the odds of another title coming our way. It took roughly a decade for a mainstream title to arrive after Pikmin 3, and I, along with other fans, would greatly prefer to not experience that wait again.
