Don’t believe everything you see on Reddit, kids. Despite numerous calls to boycott Nintendo’s Switch 2 launch due to the R12,500 ($450) price, the console has already blown passed a major milestone: 3.5 million units sold within its first four days on the market, according to Nintendo. That’s faster than any console… ever.
Nintendo Switch 3.5 million
#NintendoSwitch2 has sold over 3.5 million units worldwide in its first four days, becoming the fastest-selling Nintendo hardware ever globally. pic.twitter.com/JNrl3Z92pv
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) June 11, 2025
For reference, the PS5 sold 4.5 million units in its first seven weeks (and 2.1 million in 16 days), though the $500 starting price may have hindered its progress in those crucial first weeks. The original Nintendo Switch, which sold like hotcakes by the end of its eight-year lifespan, only managed a relatively meagre 2.74 million units in its first month with a $300 price tag.
“Fans around the world are showing their enthusiasm for Nintendo Switch 2 as an upgraded way to play at home and on the go,” Nintendo of America President and COO Doug Bowser said. “We are thankful for their response and happy to see the fun they are already having with Nintendo Switch 2 as they explore new features and games that bring friends and family together in new ways.”
Read More: Nintendo Switch 2 first impressions – Bigger, brighter, better (but not yet essential)
At this rate, the Nintendo Switch 2 is on track to dethrone the PS5’s initial figures before the weekend is over, but is it sustainable? Probably not. The original Nintendo Switch was bolstered by a too-low price that soared as the console rose to popularity, particularly amidst the Covid pandemic. This, coupled with a new standard $80 (R1,530) price tag for games, means we’ll likely see a drop-off in the next couple of weeks.
Unless, of course, Nintendo can surprise customers with some big, console-selling games soon. We know of Donkey Kong Bananza launching 17 July, but if the rumours of a Nintendo Direct appearing sometime in June are true, it might just hold onto the pace set by the new console. The Japanese company currently predicts it’ll sell around 15 million Switch 2 units in the current financial year — a relatively low number for Nintendo.
