Nintendo Switch 2 Has Already Outsold These Consoles

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Summary

  • Nintendo Switch 2 has already performed impressively, breaking many sales records.
  • It has already outsold some major home and handheld consoles from the history of video games.
  • The Nintendo Switch 2 should continue to be a bestseller, especially when considering some exciting upcoming exclusive games.

For quite some time now, there’s been a lot of buzz about a possible successor to the Nintendo Switch, given its early triumphs. Just two months after its debut, the Nintendo Switch 2 has already shattered several sales records. Among these achievements, it holds the title for the fastest-selling Nintendo console, having sold an impressive 3.5 million units within just four days of its release.

The original Nintendo Switch ranks as the third best-selling video game console ever, following the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS. Therefore, Nintendo is hoping that the upcoming Switch 2 will continue its success and potentially even outdo its predecessor. Impressively, within just two months of release, the Nintendo Switch 2 has already surpassed the total sales of older consoles, with approximately six million units sold as of now.

Honorable Mentions: “Classic” Consoles

In 2016, Nintendo introduced a special “Classic Edition” of the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System), which came preloaded with 30 classic games from the original console’s library of the ’80s. Despite being produced in relatively large quantities (around 3.5 million units), it was primarily designed as a collectible item rather than a mass-market product, though it remains noteworthy due to its popularity.

In the time span that ensued, Sony and Sega entered the fray with their offerings – PlayStation Classic and Sega Genesis Mini respectively. However, the PlayStation Classic was often viewed as a disappointment. Neither of these could rival the success of the SNES Classic Edition, which saw increased production due to its predecessor’s immense popularity, ultimately selling more than 5 million units.

Oculus GO

An Estimated Two Million VR Headsets Sold

  • Developer: Facebook Technologies, Qualcomm, Xiaomi
  • Release Date: 2018-05-01

Meta’s initial foray into VR headsets had a limited run, but the Oculus Go did offer a selection of high-quality third-party games. Positioned as an affordable gateway to virtual reality, it encountered problems upon release, including a quick battery drain and just three degrees of movement freedom, which led some users to experience motion sickness.

The Oculus Go, often criticized by key figures involved in its creation as a flop, faced challenges with keeping users engaged and lacked a standout defining feature. Despite being discontinued in 2020, it served as a stepping stone for future VR headsets from the company and is estimated to have sold around two million units during its three-year market presence.

N-Gage

Nokia Handheld With Three Million Sales

  • Developer: Nokia
  • Release Date: 2003-10-07

Could it be that the anticipation of the rising trend in mobile gaming led Finnish telecom giant Nokia to introduce the N-Gage, a smartphone equipped with gaming functions? This device boasted several groundbreaking concepts, including online play for certain games, as well as email support and an MP3 player.

The game collection encompasses 58 complete editions, along with brief previews to highlight the device’s capabilities. Notable exclusives such as “Pathway to Glory” garnered favorable feedback, while there were also daring attempts like a solitary “Civilization” title. Despite selling just three million units, it was seen as a commercial flop at the time, but today, it’s often appreciated as being ahead of its era. Both vintage devices and physical game copies are highly sought after by collectors, fetching premium prices.

WonderSwan

3.5 Million Lifetime Sales

  • Developer: Bandai
  • Release Date: 1999-03-04

To counterbalance the supremacy of Nintendo’s Game Boy Color and SNK’s Neo Geo Pocket Color, Bandai introduced their own handheld console, the WonderSwan. This device boasted greater power and extended battery life. Marketed as a budget-friendly option compared to its rivals, it held its ground fairly well in the market.

The WonderSwan boasts a impressive game collection, with initial backing from prominent third-party developers such as Namco and SquareSoft. Two enhanced versions, the WonderSwan Color and SwanCrystal, were also launched, contributing to a grand total of 3.5 million units sold, even though it was only distributed in Japan.

Neo Geo Pocket

Around Two Million Units Sold

  • Developer: SNK
  • Release Date: 1998-10-28

Prior to its bankruptcy in 2001, SNK launched one last handheld console, the Neo Geo Pocket. Initially only available in Japan, it wasn’t until the release of the Neo Geo Pocket Color that it became a global product. This console, while often eclipsed by Nintendo’s Game Boy Color, boasted some highly regarded games from SNK’s popular series such as Samurai Showdown and The King of Fighters.

Despite costly marketing efforts, the Neo Geo Pocket Color consistently stayed overshadowed by Nintendo’s popular handheld device in North America due to insufficient third-party backing and limited exposure. However, the struggling company managed to generate a profit, and over time, this console has garnered appreciation for its robust game library and superior control features.

Sega Pico

Educational Console With Over Three Million Sales

  • Developer: Sega Toys
  • Release Date: 1993-06

Equipped with the same hardware as the Genesis, the Sega Pico is a console primarily geared towards educational games, or what is sometimes referred to as “edutainment.” Designed for children between the ages of three and seven, it proved to be quite successful, providing an education to more than three million young owners.

This device resembles a laptop and comes equipped with a stylus that can be used much like a mouse or for drawing on its pad. It also boasts an extensive library of games, many of which showcase popular characters such as Sonic the Hedgehog and various Disney characters. Remarkably, more than four million units of its successor, known as the Advanced Pico Beena, were sold over a decade later.

3DO Interactive Multiplayer

Sold Over Two Million Consoles

  • Developer: The 3DO Company
  • Release Date: 1993-10-04

Back in the day, as a gamer, I remember the hype surrounding the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, which was initially designed to be a multi-media powerhouse. However, due to intense competition from the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation, it eventually shifted its focus solely to video games. The 3DO wasn’t created by the big names like Nintendo or Sony, but rather third-party companies such as Panasonic and Sanyo. It boasted some of the most advanced technology available at the time, but unfortunately, that cutting-edge tech came with a hefty price tag when it first hit the market.

An additional challenge during launch was that there was only one game to play, as many developers faced difficulties in modifying their games to suit the new hardware, leading to delayed releases. Despite this, it managed to sell over two million units, with most of its games receiving positive reviews from critics. Notably, it became famous for hosting some of those notorious Full Motion Video (FMV) games such as “Night Trap” and “The Daedalus Encounter”.

CD-i

Over One Million Units Sold

  • Developer: Philips & Sony
  • Release Date: 1990

Developed in collaboration between Philips and Sony, the CD-i was designed as an affordable multimedia device, blending the capabilities of a computer with a gaming console. However, it’s primarily known for its gaming aspect, but due to selling approximately one million units, it swiftly faded into obscurity, despite being available for several years on the market.

The device, despite numerous attempts, never excelled as a personal computer or gaming platform. It was frequently criticized for its subpar graphics and controls. Its game collection also includes the poorly received titles like “Hotel Mario” and controversial Zelda spin-offs featuring FMV cutscenes, which are often mentioned among the worst video games in history.

Several Atari Consoles

Around One Million Sales Each, Some Lower

  • Developers: Atari Corporation, Epyx, General Computer Corporation
  • Release Dates: Between 1982 and 1993

As a devoted admirer of gaming history, I’ve always been intrigued by the story of Atari. Despite numerous attempts to recapture the magic of the iconic Atari 2600, they seemed to fall short. The Atari 5200, for instance, was undermined by its lack of compatibility with the previous model that had sold in massive numbers. The Atari 7800, which boasted the first-ever backwards compatibility feature, unfortunately, followed a similar trajectory, selling less than one million units compared to the staggering 30 million units of the Atari 2600. It’s fascinating to see how gaming consoles have evolved over time, with each new release offering something unique but not always living up to the expectations set by its predecessors.

In the face of competition from devices like the Game Boy, the Atari Lynx managed to sell around two million handheld units, which is quite impressive. However, when it came to console wars, the Atari Jaguar was no match for competitors such as the SNES, Genesis, Saturn, and PS1. The lack of success with the Jaguar was so significant that Atari ultimately decided to exit the hardware market entirely, instead focusing on software development as a third-party provider ever since.

Sega SG-1000

Over Two Million Units Sold

  • Developer: Sega
  • Release Date: 1983-07-15

In a significant turn of events during their lengthy chess match, Sega introduced the SG-1000 on the very same day that Nintendo’s Famicom (popularly known as NES in the West) hit Japanese shelves. As a leading figure in arcade game development and with arcade earnings starting to dwindle, Sega decided to enter the console market, squaring off directly against Nintendo.

Despite facing challenges in adapting to home console development, Sega’s SG-1000 struggled to compete with Nintendo’s system, which is renowned for hosting some of the greatest games ever created. Although it had problems with its controller, a mediocre game library, and poor sales, the SG-1000 was a crucial initial move by Sega into the console market.

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2025-08-05 23:01