Image credit: Nintendo

Just a few days ago, Nintendo Switch 2 had its global debut — and the successor to the beloved Switch is off to a phenomenal start. The warm reception?

Backed up by numbers. In fact, it’s fair to say that Switch 2 is already breaking previous Nintendo records — both in terms of sales speed and total units sold.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Phenomenon

Nintendo consoles have always had that special something. The Japanese company has consistently impressed fans with its unique approach and hardware that stood apart from what PlayStation and Xbox were offering. Sure, Nintendo systems were rarely at the cutting edge of graphical power, but they always came packed with features the competition could only envy.

This time around, Nintendo didn’t necessarily redefine the gaming landscape or made a gaming milestone on a console market, but it did deliver a solid console that builds on everything people loved about the original Switch — while adding a long list of improvements.

Just like its predecessor, the Switch 2 is a hybrid console with a tablet core, detachable Joy-Cons, a dock for TV play, and a variety of accessories.

Switch 2 is slightly larger than the 2017 model and now sports a 7.9-inch LCD screen with 1080p resolution and HDR support in handheld mode. When docked, it delivers 4K visuals at 60 FPS on your TV.

It also features a beefed-up processor and brand-new magnetic Joy-Cons 2, equipped with advanced optical sensors. Thanks to next-gen console stats and more powerful specs, the Switch 2 should handle modern, high-performance titles much better than the original ever could.

Switch 2 Launch Sales – A New Record

The console launched on June 5, 2025 — just a few days ago — and stores worldwide are already posting “sold out” signs. In its first few days alone, Switch 2 sold a record-breaking 3.5 million units, making it Nintendo’s fastest- and best-selling console at launch, ever.

For comparison:

  • The original 2017 Switch sold about 10 million units in its first year, and 152 million over seven years.
  • The Wii U sold fewer than 14 million units total between 2012 and 2018.
  • The Wii reached around 101 million lifetime sales.
  • Nintendo’s top-selling console to date has been the DS, with over 154 million units sold — though that includes multiple models released from 2004 to 2011, and the DS was a much cheaper, compact handheld.

So yes — it’s not just possible, but likely that Switch 2 will catch up to (and maybe even surpass) the original Switch… and it might even challenge the legendary DS record.

Early Buyer Feedback

Gamers lucky enough to get their hands on a Switch 2 are praising the new magnetic Joy-Con 2 mounting system and the fresh features packed into them. The high-quality 4K output when docked is also a big hit — many appreciate that Nintendo has finally caught up with the current generation in terms of visuals and performance.

That said, the use of an LCD screen has raised some eyebrows. After all, the 2018 revision of the original Switch already featured an OLED display. But let’s be real: Nintendo has a long history of releasing multiple versions of its hardware, so it’s probably just a matter of time before we see a new model with an upgraded screen and even better features.