Switch Smashes Records! Nintendo's Reign Continues!

The king is dead, long live the king! Or, in this case, the king is surpassed, but definitely not dead. Nintendo's original Switch has officially become the company's best-selling console of all time, edging out the venerable Nintendo DS. I remember picking up my DS back in the day – the dual screens felt so revolutionary! But the Switch, with its hybrid handheld-console approach, really struck a chord with gamers.

Switch Smashes Records! Nintendo's Reign Continues...

According to Nintendo's latest financial earnings report, as of December 31, 2025, a whopping 155.37 million Switch units have found their way into homes worldwide. That's enough to dethrone the DS, which held the record at a still-impressive 154.02 million units. I've been watching this happen for a while, and while the Switch was obviously on its way to the top, what's fascinating is *when* it happened.

The really surprising part? This milestone was reached *after* the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 last summer. It's a testament to the original Switch's enduring appeal. Sure, there are likely plenty of folks snapping up the original Switch at discounted prices as retailers clear out stock for the new model, but it still shows how much love there is for the console.

"Through the third quarter, cumulative sell-in of Nintendo Switch surpassed that for Nintendo DS, reaching the highest sales volume of any Nintendo hardware," the earnings report states. Nintendo also notes that their user base remains strong, with "the number of annual playing users remain[ing] above 100 million users, as in the previous year." That kind of sustained engagement is what every console maker dreams of.

Nintendo seems to have learned some valuable lessons from past generational transitions. They acknowledge that in the past, upgrading to a new console could disrupt their relationship with consumers. This time, however, they believe the Switch's massive install base has provided a "strong business foundation" for the Switch 2 launch. Makes sense - people are already invested in the Nintendo ecosystem.

Speaking of the Switch 2, it's off to a roaring start. The report reveals that 17.37 million units have already been sold, with 15 million of those flying off shelves in its first six months. Nintendo claims Switch 2 adoption is outpacing even the original Switch. Will it eventually surpass the Switch's total sales? Only time will tell. But right now, the Switch can bask in its hard-earned glory.

Want to know more about the Switch 2? Keep an eye out for the new Joy Con 2 colors launching alongside *Mario Tennis Fever* this month. And don't forget to check out Game Informer's list of the top 10 Nintendo Switch 2 games.

Have you jumped on the Switch 2 bandwagon yet? Let us know what your favorite game is in the comments below!