PS2 is No Longer the Best-Selling Video Game Console of All Time in the US

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Summary

  • Nintendo Switch surpasses the PS2 as best-selling console in the US with 46.6 million units.
  • PS2 remains king globally with 160 million units sold, but the Switch is catching up fast.
  • The global top 10 list is dominated by Sony and Nintendo, with Xbox consoles lagging behind in sales.

As someone who grew up in the golden age of gaming and witnessed the rise and fall of many consoles, I must admit that it’s fascinating to see history repeating itself, but this time with Nintendo Switch surpassing the legendary PlayStation 2 as the best-selling console in the US.

The PlayStation 2 no longer holds the title of America’s top-selling video game console, as the Nintendo Switch now leads in sales. Although the PS2 was launched over two decades ago and maintained its position on sales charts due to its initial popularity and loyal fan base, this period of dominance has now concluded within the U.S. market.

Despite selling over 155 million units worldwide, the PlayStation 2 took a considerable time to reach that figure. On the other hand, the Nintendo Switch, with its user-friendly design, managed to catch up remarkably quickly. It’s worth noting that the Switch is still in production, while the PS2 manufacturing has ceased for quite some time. This makes it surprising that another system hasn’t surpassed the PS2 sales tally until now. Whether the Switch will continue to hold the top spot is uncertain, but its achievement marks a significant milestone in the video game industry regardless.

As a dedicated gaming enthusiast, I couldn’t help but cheer when Mat Piscatella shared the latest news on Bluesky about the Nintendo Switch. With an impressive 46.6 million units sold in the U.S., it’s now surpassed the long-standing champion, the PS2 – though it’s important to note that this count doesn’t include handheld consoles like the DS. While this milestone might not come as a shock to many, given that the Switch was 2022’s top-selling console in the U.S., it’s still quite remarkable. What’s more, it managed to secure the top spot despite experiencing a slight 3% dip in sales in 2024!

Lifetime unit sales of Nintendo Switch have now exceeded those of PlayStation 2 in the U.S. market. With its 46.6 million units sold life-to-date, Switch now ranks 2nd in all-time units sold across all video game hardware platforms in the U.S., trailing only Nintendo DS.— Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social)2024-12-18T14:00:22.008Z

In the worldwide gaming scene, the PlayStation 2 (PS2) continues to reign supreme, but the Nintendo Switch is rapidly closing the gap. With Nintendo preparing for the launch of the Switch 2, it’s possible that sales of the original Switch could decline further. If this happens, a future system might overtake the PS2 as the platform with the most global sales in history. However, the exact position of the Switch in the U.S. market remains uncertain, as Piscatella did not disclose the full list of top-selling games when discussing the latest news.

Top 10 Best-Selling Consoles of All Time Globally

  1. Sony PlayStation 2 (160 million units)
  2. Nintendo Switch (146.06 million units)
  3. Sony PlayStation 4 (117.2 million units)
  4. Sony PlayStation (102.49 million units)
  5. Nintendo Wii (101.63 million units)
  6. Sony PlayStation 3 (87.4 million units)
  7. Microsoft Xbox 360 (84 million units)
  8. Sony PlayStation 5 (65.6 million units)
  9. Nintendo Entertainment System (61.91 million units)
  10. Microsoft Xbox One (58 million units)

A notable pattern in the worldwide top 10 ranking is that it’s primarily a contest between Sony and Nintendo. Just two Xbox consoles managed to make the list, but this count doesn’t include handheld devices. Given Microsoft’s projection of continued decrease in hardware sales in the upcoming years, it appears uncertain that they will boost their market share in terms of total sales, at least for the immediate future.

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2024-12-18 20:16