Gaming fans are thrilled with the explosive launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, and it shows. The long-awaited successor has now triumphantly seized the crown as the fastest-selling console in history. Selling an astonishing 3.5 million units worldwide within just four days of its release on June 5, 2025, the Switch 2 has outpaced industry giants like the PlayStation 5, which took a month to reach a comparable 3.4 million units. It has also blown past most PC handhelds’ lifetime sales in a matter of days. This remarkable achievement, confirmed by Nintendo, marks a great start for their new era.
Building on the Switch’s Success
Nintendo’s out-of-the-gate success with the Switch 2 builds on the unprecedented momentum of its predecessor, the original Nintendo Switch. It launched in 2017 and is on track to become the highest-selling console of all time. As of March 31, 2025, the Switch family has shipped over 152.12 million units, closing in on the lifetime sales of the Nintendo DS (154 million) and the PlayStation 2’s record of 160 million. Analysts predict that with continued demand and the Nintendo Switch 2’s backward compatibility, the original Switch could soon claim the top spot, cementing Nintendo’s dominance in the console market.
Overcoming Pre-Launch Criticism
Despite pre-launch criticism over the increase to $80 games, the wildly exaggerated End User License Agreement (EULA) drama, and many other controversies, Nintendo achieved a massively successful launch by leveraging strong consumer demand after the Switch, taking extra time to build stock, and the mass appeal of its iconic brand.
This strategy, paired with launching the console with their highest-selling franchise, enhanced backward compatibility with the original Switch’s vast library, and hardware that satisfies today’s handheld standards at a reasonable price, has provided an instant appeal. This move retains Nintendo’s loyal fan base and attracts new buyers. With such a successful launch, the Nintendo Switch 2 suggests Nintendo may be poised for back-to-back triumphs.
A Promising Future
Nintendo is off to a great start with the Switch 2, but sustaining this success will hinge on delivering a robust software lineup to match its hardware triumph. The company has already lined up an impressive slate of games for the remainder of 2025, including the highly anticipated Donkey Kong Bananza in July and Pokémon Legends: Z-A in October. The surprise announcement of Splatoon Raiders further heats things up.
Third parties are also coming aboard like never before, which can be the factor that pushes the Switch 2 to massive success. If Nintendo can maintain, or even surpass, the cadence and quality that defined the original Switch, there’s no doubt the Nintendo Switch 2 will take the world by storm. Echoing the global phenomenon its predecessor became.
