Switch 2 outsells PS4 at record pace: Race for No.1 gaming console heats up

Dubai: The rules of the console game just changed—and Nintendo is in the lead.

The newly launched Nintendo Switch 2 is rewriting the record books, outselling every console launch in US history—including the long-reigning PlayStation 4. In June alone, 1.6 million Switch 2 units were sold in America, smashing the previous record of 1.1 million set by Sony’s PS4 back in 2013.

That’s just the U.S. picture. Globally, Nintendo confirmed 3.5 million units sold in the first four days—making Switch 2 the fastest-selling Nintendo console of all time. Even legacy launches like the original Switch and other fan favorites can’t compete with the early momentum of the new hybrid system.

Launch day demand has been nothing short of explosive—even in markets that usually lean PlayStation. In Spain, Switch 2 sold 108,000 units, doubling the PSP’s prior record. In France, the new console reportedly outsold the PS5 at launch. In the UK, while it hasn’t beaten the PS5’s day-one tally, it’s closing the gap fast.

What’s helped? For one, Nintendo avoided the supply-chain shortages that plagued earlier releases. Bundles like Mario Kart World gave fans more reason to buy, and October’s planned combo with Pokémon Legends: Z-A could trigger another surge in sales heading into the holidays.

Nintendo is stacking its 2025 with fresh exclusives, including Drag x Drive, Kirby Air Riders, and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. Fan buzz is also growing around Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which—like Pokémon—will also be available on the original Switch.

But the question lingers: Can Nintendo sustain this breakneck momentum? Much will depend on how well they can manage stock, keep the exclusives flowing, and expand their audience beyond early adopters.

Still, if early data is any hint, the Switch 2 isn’t just off to a hot start—it may be chasing history.