Nintendo Switch Dethrones DS! What This Means For Gamers?!

Well, folks, it's official. The Nintendo Switch, that little hybrid console that could, has officially dethroned the Nintendo DS as Nintendo's all-time bestselling hardware. I remember when the Switch first came out – there were definitely some doubters, but the flexibility of playing on your TV or on the go really resonated with people. Turns out, that gamble paid off big time.

Nintendo Switch Dethrones DS! What This Means For ...

According to Nintendo's latest financial report, as of December 31st, 2025, the original Switch has racked up an astounding 155.37 million units sold worldwide. That's enough to nudge past the Nintendo DS's impressive 154.02 million. A pretty incredible feat for a console that's been around for nine years!

And it's not like sales are slowing to a trickle either. Even with the newer Switch 2 on the market, the original Switch still managed to move 3.25 million units during Nintendo's fiscal year 2026 so far. That includes 1.36 million over the holiday season, which is honestly, mind-blowing considering there was even a price increase last August, apparently due to "market conditions." You'd think that would have scared people off, but nope, the Switch is still a hot commodity.

Speaking of the Switch 2, it’s also off to a roaring start. Nintendo is calling it their "fastest-selling dedicated video game platform" ever, and with 17.37 million units sold by the end of December, it's easy to see why. It's already zoomed past the Wii U's lifetime sales and is hot on the heels of the GameCube. Honestly, at this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if it surpasses the GameCube's numbers within the next year.

Interestingly, the original Switch is still driving the bulk of Nintendo's software sales. In the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, 47.37 million Switch games were sold, compared to 17.31 million Switch 2 games. This tells me that a lot of people are still heavily invested in their original Switch and aren't necessarily rushing to upgrade just yet. Which makes sense – there's a massive library of games for the original console.

As for the games themselves, Mario Kart World is apparently the big winner this year, with 14.03 million units sold. No surprise there, really. It’s the kind of accessible, pick-up-and-play game that everyone loves. Pokémon Legends Z-A and Donkey Kong Bananza also got a shout-out. It’s good to see the classics still resonate. All in all, a pretty impressive showing for Nintendo, solidifying their position as a force to be reckoned with in the gaming world. And I, for one, am curious to see where they go from here.