Summary
Industry analysts predict theNintendo Switch 2will win the next console generation. Much about Nintendo’s upcoming system remains a mystery, and even less information is available about the next Xbox and PlayStation iterations. Still, that hasn’t stopped the successor to theSwitchfrom generating a lot of excitement within the industry.
The only certainty fans have about the upcoming console is thatNintendo will reveal the Switch 2 before March 2025and that it will be backward compatible with Switch games. A lot of supposed details about its specs, price, layout, and even the size of its production run have emerged, but the validity of these leaks has yet to be confirmed. Rumors aside, though, a recent industry report claims that Nintendo’s hardware will have an edge over Xbox and Sony over the next few years.
DFC Intelligence, a gaming and digital media industry research firm, projects Nintendo will lead the console market from 2025 through 2028, thanks to the Switch 2. According to the firm’s research, the second Switch will sell over 17 million units in its first year and move over 20 million each year afterward. While either Sony, Microsoft, or both will likely also launch a new system before 2028, the Switch 2’s earlier release will cement its status as the best-selling hardware of the generation. The originalSwitch surpassed the PS2 as the best-selling consoleof all time in the US in 2024, so it’s easy to see how its successor could outsell the competition.
The DFC report attributes the Switch 2’s projected lead to its early launch, the strong performance of the original Switch, and the fact that fans are excited about another console, given that it’s been almost eight years since the first Switch was released. As far as competition between Xbox and Sony goes, DFC predicts the next PlayStation will have a slight edge over anything from Microsoft, largely because of Sony’s dedicated fan base and a strong lineup of exclusive titles. That may not be surprising to some, either, asPlayStation accounts for four of the 10 best-selling consolesof all time.
DFC notes that while Microsoft may be floundering in terms of hardware, it’s set itself apart as a leader in software. As a result, the company may focus on this side of its business in the coming years, which could give Nintendo and Sony an even better shot at winning the generation. The report also mentions an important caveat to its bullish predictions about Switch 2 sales: Nintendo’s early lead hinges on the company being able to manufacture enough consoles. Rumors suggest thatNintendo is already mass-producing the Switch 2, so that may not prove an issue, but only time will tell.
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console launched in 2017, capable of being played in handheld mode or docked to a television. The Switch Lite, a handheld-only model, followed in 2019, with an OLED refresh coming in 2021.
