It's no secret that the Switch has proven to be a roaring success worldwide. Just recently, we reported on the system's remarkable achievement in overtaking PS4 sales in North America, and now it's just hit another major milestone in its native Japan.
As reported by Game Data Library on Twitter, the Switch has now outsold the 3DS in the region, totalling an incredible 24,765,068 units sold since its launch on March 3rd, 2017. The 3DS has managed a total of 24,759,642 units sold since its own launch back on February 26th, 2011.
What this means, then, is that the Switch is now the third bestselling system in the region, sitting just behind the Game Boy in second place and the Nintendo DS in first place. It's also interesting to see the sales trajectory based on major game releases; it's clear that the 3DS had a remarkable surge in sales early on with the launch of Mario Kart 7 and the 3DS XL later on (a cheeky price cut probably did a world of good, too), but ultimately started to level out shortly after the launch of the somewhat divisive New 3DS.
Looking at the Switch on the other hand, the dips in sales have been very few and far between, which is largely attributed to the consistent release of incredible games, not to mention the Switch Lite and OLED model.
Let's take a look at the total rankings, courtesy of Game Data Library:
| System | Total Sales | Launch Date (Japan) |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo DS | 32,878,490 | December 2nd, 2004 |
| Game Boy | 32,430,000 | April 21st, 1989 |
| Nintendo Switch | 24,765,068 | March 3rd, 2017 |
| Nintendo 3DS | 24,759,642 | February 26th, 2011 |
| PlayStation 2 | 21,980,000 | March 4th, 2000 |
| PlayStation Portable | 19,632,197 | December 12th, 2004 |
| Famicom | 19,230,000 | July 15th, 1983 |
| PlayStation | 18,855,344 | December 3rd, 1994 |
| Super Famicom | 17,150,000 | November 21st, 1990 |
| Game Boy Advance | 15,535,192 | March 21st, 2001 |
| Wii | 12,739,119 | December 2nd, 2006 |
| PlayStation 3 | 10,258,559 | November 11th, 2006 |
Quite the achievement, right? To think that the Switch has outsold the likes of the PlayStation 2 and the original Famicom in Japan is crazy! Can it stretch itself even further and reach first place? Given the sales trajectory compared to the 3DS, we reckon it's got a darn good shot. What's also notable, and a little bit surprising, is the total absence of the PS4 from the rankings; perhaps this just goes to show how much folks in Japan prefer handheld gaming.
Let us know in the comments what you make of the Switch's latest milestone, and if you think it will surpass the Game Boy and DS!
[source twitter.com]
Comments 34
Typo on the table. The bottom row is missing the "3" in "Playstation 3."
It's crazy to see how close the DS and GB/GBC were in terms of sales there, when the worldwide sales difference between the two is significantly greater. 😮
@TotalHenshin Right you are, sir - thank you
Surprising to see the Wii is so low given how successful it was worldwide. I guess the Japanese didn't quite embrace it in the same way? Or is it as simple as something like Wii Sports not being a pack-in in Japan (although I may be wrong about that)?
Wow, considering how much the Switch has dominated Japan in the last few years, to see it still 25% behind the Game Boy and DS numbers is testament to how well those systems sold there. And the 3DS smashed it too, relatively.
Hang on!
I don't see SEGA on that list!
Or Xbox?
And where the hell is PS4/5/Vita!?!
Nintendo would be insane to even think about new hardware right now. Give us Zelda 2, Bayonetta 3, Odyssey 2, Metroid 4, Donkey Kong etc etc…..the list of software that people want is endless in order to keep selling Switch consoles
I do love a graph
Really impressive the Switch did this in a shorter time frame than the 3DS and no real significant price drop, just a cheaper revision. Not to mention the 3DS had several budget revisions/bundles etc for as low as $80(2DS).
It’s the success of the 3DS that surprised me most here. Its sales rate is better than the Switch’s for years. I suspect the hybrid will have a longer tail though, given the support it’s still getting.
Switch is a beast.
B..but the s..switch is going to fail without a switch 2!
Loving these numbers👌🏾
Japan is Nintendo Land.
They really don't like Xbox.
It will reach first place. Nintendo just needs to keep the momentum going.
@Ooccoo_Jr
It generally revolves around Japan's lifestyle. The handheld and mobile market there is much higher there and people don't stay at home as often as western people do.
@SteamEngenius
Expanding into the Japanese market was already tough for most western firms. With Xbox, they were only lucky that they made such huge bucks from the rest of Microsoft's products that they were able to hold some sort of presence in Japan.
The biggest reason Xbox never does well in Japan is simply because many Japanese developers choose to only make games on PlayStation and/or Nintendo without ever considering a super-easy Xbox port.
The only western game company I can think of that made a huge success in Japan was Sega, but only because it technically started out as both Japanese and western.
Well, congratulations. 🙂
But be careful, my gaming hype currently is like this:
1. PS4
2. PS3
3. 3DS
4. Switch
5. PS2
6. Wii
7. NDS
8. Wii U
9. Gamecube
10. PS1
11. PSP
12. GBA
Currently I prefer PS4 than Switch for some reasons during pandemic.
Shocked to see PS4 not on the list at all despite it's mammoth sales globally!
Then Nintendo comes along and brings out the Switch to appease the Japanese market and the world loves it too.
It's cool to have lived through these eras and watched how the world is changing perspective on how to game. It kind of makes me feel a crash is coming, people will start getting bored of the same genre of game coming out or how to play.
Even though the Switch is behind on a lot of things, it could be the foundations for the future!
Japan do love handheld gaming and with Sony killing off the Vita (and hence any other subsequent Sony handheld) the way was clear for Nintendo to clean up.
Interesting that Sony's second best seller is the PSP!
Nice! Well Deserved!
Can the Switch keep on selling around 4 million units a year for another couple of years in Japan? If so, it could take the crown. If it's still around for more than couple of years (and it probably will be!), then it's still in with a chance of being number one even if sales rates slow down. No wonder the Saudi's decided to want a (5%) slice of the action.
Time for the 3D Switch!
Nintendo has done an amazing job with the Switch. It’s a brilliant design for the company. In the past, having to split their studios between consoles and handhelds, now it’s all in one and can focus all their teams to it. Congratulations Nintendo on your Switch success!
It is telling that two of my favourite consoles ever are not even on the list, Gamecube and Wii U. Both also made by Nintendo, as I'm sure I didn't need to remind anyone of. But hey, I love a good game on a good gaming system, it's just that most of my favourites are available on or exclusive to Nintendo systems, they have a great history with handhelds (which I prefer), and with just a ps2 added, I can last multiple lifetimes on quality games. Every other system has its greats as well, of course, but I honestly never liked the feeling of a ps controller in my hands and they seem to really stick to their design...
@inenai yes.
And have another bonus 'yes' on top of that.
Currently playing Etrian Odyssey V, after having played every previous title and crossover, and it's sad that this series will probably die with the 3ds, just like 3d screens. Still prefer a good looking 3d handheld game over the same game in HD on a tv.
Whether or not Switch passes DS and Game boy is probably simply a matter of, is their next console considered to be a Switch revision like New Switch or actually a new Switch like Switch 2?
These things used to be easy to distinguish, but New 3DS really was more of a "next gen" console - it has several exclusive games 3DS couldn't play - than Xbox Series X/S has been so far. I don't think Microsoft's next gen consoles have even 1 single exclusive so far. PS5 has less than a handful, basically in line with what New 3DS had.
So my point is we're all just going to have to take Nintendo's word for it if their next console sales numbers should be included with Switch or start a new generation b/c I'm guessing their next hardware will be a little bit of both, Switch Pro 2. 🤷
PSP sold more than GBA woah, think both were exellent systems. PSP had some screen issues, its games looks so much better on Vita
It'll be interesting to see if the Switch can take the top spot. I personally think it will as I think a successor to the system will only come out in late 2024 at the earliest and most likely in 2025. I'm sure Nintendo still has a lot prepared for the system - I still expect at least one Pokémon game after gen 9, a new Fire Emblem and/or a Fire Emblem remake, Metroid Prime 4, either that rumoured Donkey Kong game and/or a new 3D Mario, the new IP from Monolith Soft... and then there's eventually a slower period corresponding to the calm before the storm of the new system releasing. They learned their lessons with the 3DS and Wii U, so whenever they decide to release the Switch's successor, they'll need to be ready to have a steady stream of content coming, so they'll need time to have games ready. I think the teams releasing games now will be the some of the ones working on some of the year one games for the new system.
Wait, I thought the switch already passed the 3ds.
@blindsquarel I think that statistic was globally. This is Switch sales in Japan vs past Japanese market sales.
It should be mentioned that those GameBoy figures include that of the original GameBoy up until the GameBoy Color, so that's basically 12+ years worth of sales rolled up into a single total.
If you look at sales on a launch-aligned basis, the GameBoy sold much slower than the GBA, NDS, 3DS, and Switch, but it had a ridiculously long lifespan, so it reached enormous lifetime sales by the time it was discontinued.
What's not reported that it did this in only 5+ years. People are still not giving the Switch due credit here.
Portability is king in Japan.
@gcunit Xbox has never done well in Japan and the Genesis was mostly geared towards an American audience. But I am surprised that there is no PS4, and that 3DS outsold PS2.
In Japan, Dragon Quest is extremely popular. With a 3DS you can play VII, VIII, XI, and the DS games like IV, V, VI, and IX. Not to mention all the spinoffs, which are cool as well.
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