Nintendo Switch Surpasses PlayStation 2 in U.S. Sales Milestone

Ethan James 23 Dec 2024

The gaming landscape continues to evolve as consoles vie for the top spot in sales figures. Recently, the Nintendo Switch has made headlines for surpassing a significant milestone in the United States, challenging the long-held dominance of a former champion.

The PlayStation 2, renowned for its remarkable achievement of 160 million units sold, has held the title of the highest-selling game console for years. However, the introduction of the Nintendo Switch has stirred the competitive atmosphere. As of September, the Switch has been reported to have sold 146 million units, coming close to the PlayStation 2's impressive record, and it has now officially surpassed it in the U.S. market.

According to Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, as shared via Bluesky, the Switch has overtaken the PlayStation 2 in the total lifetime unit sales in the United States as of November. The festive season is anticipated to play a major role in the Switch's sales, with many consoles likely to be found under Christmas trees across the country.

While the PlayStation 2 achieved 53 million units sold in the U.S., it is interesting to note that the Nintendo DS surpassed it with sales of 57 million units. It appears plausible that the Switch will eventually eclipse these numbers as well, and as time progresses, it may very well outpace the PlayStation 2 on a global scale. Nevertheless, it is anticipated that sales growth may decelerate following the launch of the forthcoming addition to Nintendo's gaming console series.