If Switch Doesn't Overtake the PS2, Will Anything?

[Moonface]

A new report released from Nintendo has officially confirmed the Nintendo Switch currently sits at 146.04 million units sold as of September 30, 2024. While this hasn't changed the rankings of the top three best selling consoles, it does continue to bring the Switch closer to the unit sales of the DS and PS2, which sit at 154.02 million and 155 million respectively.

However, with the Switch 2 likely coming within the next year or so, and no more big hitters coming to the Switch as a result, how good are the chances for the Switch to pull in the remaining 10 million unit sales to put it into first place? And if the Switch doesn't manage to do it, then does that seal the deal that no console will ever manage to dethrone the DS let alone the PS2?


For me I definitely think if the Switch isn't the one to break into one of the top two spots, then nothing is going to do it. For how big the Wii was I'm actually surprised it sits as low in the rankings for total unit sales as it does.

I think it also shows that for as big as gaming has gotten now, that consumers are spread out considerably across platforms to not see any of the newer consoles easily touch the unit sales of older ones when gaming was smaller but also offered a lot less options of where to play games.

[Karo]

I'm not really sure if it will or not we won't really know we do have a Christmas sale going on so we will really have to see, but after this Christmas I think we will probably know the final sale of the switch?

As for could we ever see the dethroning of the PS2 or the DS? I mean honestly maybe not really? Like back in there day I think there was just the right time for these consoles to become giant the PS2 was the second 3D console and it was a huge jump in quality there only competitors were basically Nintendo, Sega, and Microsoft and you'd really only ever pick one and I think it was probably just the right time for gaming to really start picking up steam? I never looked up the data so it actual speculation with my flawed memory.

As for the DS I think it was because of a similar spot a strong brand of Nintendo games on the go you could actually have 3D games on the go and I think this was just before the smartphone boom if I am recalling correctly and once the smartphone and tablet kinda emerged game console probably had their biggest competitors yet.

Which honestly to me is probably why if the Switch doesn't reach the sun I'm going to speculate it just due to the phone & tablet market with their games taking a large portion of the gaming market share really. Candy Crush is the true ultimate gamer game afterall and I know in my heart I am a fake gamer. ;-;

[Moonface]

I'm not really sure if it will or not we won't really know we do have a Christmas sale going on so we will really have to see, but after this Christmas I think we will probably know the final sale of the switch?

I can't say I recall ever seeing a notable sale for a Switch on Black Friday or any other holiday. If any type of sale were to help push the Switch into 2nd or 1st, I think it's more likely for a price drop to occur for it when the Switch 2 launches to attract those who have yet to get one but might not want to pay the price of a Switch 2. Plus if the S2 has backwards compatibility that would make it very hard for a Switch to look appealing unless the price difference between the two is drastic.

As for could we ever see the dethroning of the PS2 or the DS? I mean honestly maybe not really? Like back in there day I think there was just the right time for these consoles to become giant the PS2 was the second 3D console and it was a huge jump in quality there only competitors were basically Nintendo, Sega, and Microsoft and you'd really only ever pick one and I think it was probably just the right time for gaming to really start picking up steam? I never looked up the data so it actual speculation with my flawed memory.

With how the Dreamcast went I wouldn't consider Sega a competitor in the 6th generation of consoles, and although Xbox debuted it had to compete against two established companies. PS2 also had the advantage of being a DVD player that was good value for money compared to an actual DVD player, although I don't know how much that actually would've influenced sales for it.

As for the DS I think it was because of a similar spot a strong brand of Nintendo games on the go you could actually have 3D games on the go and I think this was just before the smartphone boom if I am recalling correctly and once the smartphone and tablet kinda emerged game console probably had their biggest competitors yet.

Yeah, Nintendo already dominated with handhelds and to then have one that does 3D and does a completely new feature just helped push it further. Looking at it now the Switch is very similar but in reverse; Nintendo took the strengths of their handhelds and combined it with a home console to basically combine their two markets into one. Whether you had a Wii, Wii U, DS or 3DS, you were going to buy a Switch whereas before you had to choose between buying a new handheld or a new home console.