Nintendo still believes the Switch has plenty of life left even amid steeply declining sales and the console nearing its eight-year anniversary.
The Switch, which launched in March 2017, sold 15.7 million units during the last financial year ending March 31, 2024, a decline of 12.6% on the previous year. However, Nintendo enjoyed 123 million ‘annual playing users’ during the period, the highest figure ever since Switch launched.
For the current financial year ending March 2025, Nintendo forecast 13.5 million Switch sales, which would be a 14% decline on the previous year. The Switch is now up to 141.32 million units sold as of March 31, 2024. Add another 13.5 million on top and you get 154.82 million. If the Switch continues to sell well even after its successor launches, reportedly spring 2025, it may end up as the best-selling console of all-time, ahead of the PS2’s eye-watering 160 million sold.
On this financial year, it’s worth digging into how Nintendo will achieve its aggressive 13.5 million sales figure. In its fiscal report, the company offered a vague statement, similar to those it has issued in the past: “Nintendo Switch has entered its eighth year since launch, and while it will be challenging to sustain the same sales momentum as before, we will work to maintain high user engagement with the hardware and invigorate the platform so that more consumers continue to play Nintendo Switch for longer.”
Nintendo has just announced a Nintendo Direct for June, during which fans will get a better idea of the games to expect during the console’s twilight years. But to achieve such a high number of sales during a console’s eighth year, Nintendo may have significant unannounced games up its sleeve, or may be preparing a long-awaited price cut.
Meanwhile, Nintendo announced updates sales figures for many of its Switch games. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is now up to 20.61 million sold, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is on 13.44 million, the eternally popular Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sold another 8.18 million during the year, and Nintendo Switch Sports shifted another 3.51 million units. Pikmin 4 has sold 3.48 million, and Super Mario RPG has sold 3.31 million. Princess Peach: Showtime!, which launched in March, hit 1.22 million, and Mario vs. Donkey Kong, which released in February, is on 1.12 million sold.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
