Switch 2 Predicted as the Best Selling Next-Gen Console Despite Not Even Being Out Yet

Video game industry-focused research firm DFC Intelligence projects that the Nintendo Switch 2 will outsell all competition, with sales expected to reach between 15 to 17 million units in the following year. Dive deeper into this forecast to understand why the Switch 2 is poised for success.

Switch 2 Is The "Clear Winner"

80 Million Units By 2028

DFC Intelligence has boldly predicted that Nintendo's Switch 2 will emerge as the "clear winner" among next-gen consoles, according to their 2024 Video Game Market Report and Forecast released on December 17th.

Nintendo is set to lead the console market, outpacing rivals Microsoft and Sony. This lead is attributed to the Switch 2's expected early release in 2025 and the current lack of strong competition. Analysts forecast that the new Nintendo console will sell "15-17 million units in 2025 and exceed 80 million units by 2028." The demand might even strain Nintendo's manufacturing capabilities.

While Sony and Microsoft are reportedly working on their own handheld consoles, these projects remain in early stages. DFC Intelligence suggests that these competitors "should release new consoles by 2028," but the three-year gap between the Switch 2 and these new systems could solidify Nintendo's lead. The report hints that only one of these future consoles might succeed, with a potential "PS6" being favored due to PlayStation's loyal fanbase and strong intellectual properties.

Nintendo's popularity is soaring, especially with the Switch surpassing the lifetime sales of the PlayStation 2 in the United States. Circana's executive director and analyst Mat Piscatella shared on BlueSky that "with its 46.6 million units sold life-to-date, Switch now ranks 2nd in all-time units sold across all video game hardware platforms in the U.S., trailing only Nintendo DS." This achievement is remarkable, considering a reported 3% decrease in yearly Switch sales.

Video Game Industry Looking Up As Growth Soars

The video game industry's future looks promising, according to DFC Intelligence. David Cole, the firm's founder and CEO, noted, "Over the past three decades, the video game industry has grown more than 20x, and after two years of slumping hardware and software sales, it’s poised to resume growing at a healthy rate through the end of the decade." He predicts that 2025 will be a pivotal year, marking the beginning of sustained growth.

The year 2025 is set to be "one of the best years ever" for the industry, with new products like the Nintendo Switch 2 and the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI boosting consumer excitement and spending. The release of these titles is expected to significantly increase overall video game sales.

As the industry thrives, the global gaming audience is projected to surpass 4 billion players by 2027. The trend towards "high-end gaming-on-the-go" with portable systems is making gaming more accessible. Additionally, the rise of esports and gaming influencers is driving increased hardware purchases for both PC and consoles.