Nintendo has sold over 139 million Switch units worldwide as of early 2024

Nintendo stopped reporting exact sales figures in 2023, but the last official count was 139.3 million Switch consoles sold globally. That number came from Nintendo's financial report in May 2023. Since then, the company has only said the Switch continues to sell steadily, without releasing new totals.

The Switch launched in March 2017 and became one of the best-selling game consoles ever made. It reached 100 million units sold in January 2021 — faster than any Nintendo console before it. The remaining 39 million units sold between early 2021 and mid-2023, which shows the console's sales slowed but remained strong even in its later years.

Key Takeaways

  • Nintendo's last official sales count was 139.3 million Switch units sold worldwide as of May 2023.
  • The Switch reached 100 million units in about four years, making it faster to that milestone than the Nintendo Wii or any other Nintendo console.
  • Nintendo stopped releasing quarterly sales updates in 2023 and now only reports sales in annual financial statements.
  • The Switch OLED model, released in October 2021, and the Switch Lite, released in September 2019, are both counted in the total sales figure.

How the Switch compares to other Nintendo consoles

The Switch's 139 million units make it the second-best-selling Nintendo console of all time. Only the Nintendo DS, released in 2004, sold more — it reached 154.9 million units before Nintendo stopped selling it in 2013.

The original Wii, which was hugely popular in the 2000s, sold 101.6 million units over its entire lifetime. The Switch surpassed that number in less than four years. The Nintendo 64 sold 32.9 million units, and the GameCube sold 21.7 million units. By this measure, the Switch is by far the most successful home console Nintendo has ever made.

Why Nintendo stopped reporting exact numbers

Nintendo's last detailed sales report came in May 2023. After that, the company moved to reporting sales only once a year in its annual financial statements, rather than every quarter. This shift happened as the Switch entered its seventh year on the market, when sales naturally slow down.

The company said it would focus on reporting other metrics instead, like software sales and player engagement. This is common for aging consoles — companies stop tracking hardware sales as closely once a new generation is on the horizon. Nintendo has not announced a Switch successor yet, but industry analysts expect one sometime in 2025.

The three Switch models and their sales

Nintendo released three versions of the Switch, and all three are counted in the 139 million total. The original Switch, which can dock to a TV or play handheld, launched in March 2017 and remained the main model throughout the console's life.

The Switch Lite came out in September 2019 as a smaller, cheaper handheld-only version. It could not connect to a TV and had no removable controllers, but it cost $199 instead of $299. The Switch OLED model launched in October 2021 with a larger, brighter screen and better speakers, priced at $349. Nintendo never broke down how many of each model sold, so the 139 million figure includes all three combined.

Regional breakdown of Switch sales

The Switch sold differently across the world. Japan, where Nintendo is based, was the strongest market early on. The Americas — North America, Central America, and South America combined — became the largest region by sales volume over time. Europe also drove significant sales.

Nintendo's financial reports grouped sales into three regions: Japan, the Americas, and Other (which includes Europe, Australia, and the rest of the world). The company never released exact unit counts by region, only revenue figures. This means you cannot know precisely how many Switch units sold in the United States versus Europe versus Japan, only that all three regions contributed substantially to the 139 million total.

What happened to Switch sales in 2023 and 2024

The Switch's sales peaked around 2018 to 2020, when games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild drove strong hardware demand. Sales slowed noticeably in 2022 and 2023 as the console aged and fewer major new games released.

Nintendo's fiscal year 2023 (which runs April 2023 to March 2024) saw continued decline in Switch hardware sales. The company did not announce a new console during that period, which left some buyers waiting rather than purchasing. Industry reports suggest the Switch will remain on sale alongside a new console when Nintendo eventually announces one, similar to how the Wii U and Switch coexisted for a short time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 139 million number still current?

No. That figure is from May 2023 and is now over a year old. Nintendo has not released a new total since then. The actual number is higher, but Nintendo has not said by how much. You can expect an updated figure in Nintendo's next annual financial report, usually released in May.

Does the 139 million include all three Switch models?

Yes. The 139.3 million total includes the original Switch, the Switch Lite, and the Switch OLED. Nintendo never separated the sales figures by model, so you cannot know how many of each version sold individually.

How does the Switch compare to PlayStation and Xbox?

The PlayStation 4 sold 117 million units, making it the best-selling console of its generation. The Xbox One sold around 50 million units. The Switch's 139 million units is higher than both, though the Switch and PS4 had different release dates and market lifespans, so direct comparison is complicated.

Will the Switch continue to sell after a new console launches?

Probably yes, but in smaller numbers. When the Switch launches, Nintendo will likely keep the Switch Lite in production at a lower price point, similar to what happened with the Wii and Wii U. The original Switch and OLED model may be discontinued.

Why did Nintendo stop reporting sales every quarter?

As consoles age, sales naturally decline and become less important to investors. Nintendo shifted to annual reporting to focus attention on software sales and engagement metrics instead. This is standard practice in the industry once a console enters its later years.