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We've all known for over 3 years that the Nintendo Switch dominated the market. Nintendo's console wars challenger shattered preconceptions when it launched in 2017. Armed with an unbeatable exclusive library and many nifty new tricks, the console climbed the ladder of success. Now, the Nintendo Switch continues to break barriers within Nintendo's own walls. Currently, the Switch ranks as Nintendo's 2nd best-selling home console.
Switching it Up
Nintendo marketed the Switch as a home console but it's also technically a portable gaming device. The Switch's rise in popularity and sales figures encroaches on the best selling home and portable consoles in Nintendo's history. Nintendo published a report of their home and portable console hardware and software sales records. As of December 31, 2020, the Nintendo Switch has sold a total of 79.87 million units.
This record beats its direct predecessor, the Wiiu, which only sold 13.56 million units. Switch sales still pale in comparison to the Wii's whopping 101.63 million units but they managed to beat out the dominant 3DS figures. Nintendo's last handheld console put up 75.94 million units as of 2020.
The Nintendo Switch inches close towards beating out the record of the Game Boy Advance which sold 81.51 million units. The three devices it still needs to beat are the Wii, the Game Boy, and the original DS.
Hidden Figures
The figures are impressive but it gets grander when considering that the initial figures for the Switch don't include the Switch Lite. The 2019 portable, dockless console sold a commendable 13.53 million units. This is respectable considering the Lite appeals mostly to players hoping to game away from their living rooms.
Both console's overwhelming successes can be attributed in part to the success of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Fans and players around the world already knew about the Marios and the Zeldas of Nintendo's library but far fewer Animal Crossing fans existed. The franchise's latest installment sold 31.18 million copies as of 2020 so there's no telling how high that figure is at this date. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is tantalizingly close towards beating out the Switch's current best-selling game, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with 33.41 million copies sold.
