Nintendo expects Switch 2 to be the fastest-selling console of all time

The Switch 2 could ship 15 million units in its first year, making it the fastest-selling video games console in history.

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Nintendo today published its Q4 FY25 results, showing a predictable drop in earnings as consumers gear up for the Switch 2's launch. The company published its sales forecasts for the Switch 2 which see the system shipping 15 million consoles worldwide. Given this time period is only 10 months (Switch 2 launches on June 5, 2025, and Nintendo's FY26 ends on March 31, 2026), the Switch 2 would be the highest-selling system in a such a period, also making it the fastest-selling system in terms of sell-in/shipment volume.

We've put together a quick checklist based on historical data to show how the Switch 2's forecasted results weigh against other historical hardware launches. Bear in mind all of the platforms included in our comparisons are based on 12-month sales except for the Wii U, which achieved 3.61 million shipments in 9 months, and the aforementioned Switch 2, which is expected to ship 15 million units in 10 months.

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"Nintendo Switch 2, our new dedicated video game system, will launch on June 5, 2025. For the full fiscal year, we forecast the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware sales of 15 million units and software sales of 45 million units. As the successor system to the widely-adopted Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 will build on its userbase, and we will work to bring enjoyment to more consumers worldwide,"Nintendo writes in the report.

First-year Console Shipments

• Xbox - 8 million
• PS2 - 10.61 million
• GameCube - 4.7 million
• Xbox 360 - 7.6 million
• PS3 - 10.53 million
• Wii -13.87 million
• Wii U* - 3.61 million
• PS4 - 13.8 million
• Xbox One - 7.4 million
• Switch - 14.87 million
• PS5 -13.8 million
• Xbox Series -12.6 million
• PS5 Pro - 13.4 million
• Switch 2* - 15 million