(Image credit: Nintendo)
The PlayStation 2 continues to hold the title of the best-selling video game console of all time, surpassing 160 million units sold globally. Yet, the Nintendo Switch is steadily closing in on this milestone. A former executive from Sony speculates that it may indeed surpass the PS2 – but only if the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 doesn’t disrupt its progress.
The rivalry between Nintendo and PlayStation has simmered for decades, harking back to the days of the Nintendo PlayStation. Recently, the competition has intensified as sales figures become the focal point. Just recently, following years after the PS2 ceased production, Sony declared an additional 5 million units sold. Meanwhile, Nintendo announced that the Switch had crossed the 150 million unit mark, including both the OLED and Lite versions, leaving it just 10 million away from overtaking Sony’s record.
In a conversation with Destin Legarie, former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden remarked that the “record is out there for the breaking.” He stated, “I don’t know, I think the Switch 2 will have a lot to do with that [record] – depending on the price point it comes out at. If it’s super competitive to the current market, maybe you get people switching over faster than if there’s, you know, when you have two consoles out the same manufacturer but the delta is more than $150 and getting people to move is hard.”
The original Switch is priced at $299 in most stores, though sales often make it available for less. If the Switch 2 is launched at a similar price, Layden’s point stands: many would prefer the successor. However, it’s predicted by some analysts that the Switch 2 will be priced between $400 and $500, potentially leaving the original Switch as a more appealing option for budget-conscious buyers, particularly if Nintendo decides on a significant price reduction during its end-of-life phase.
Nintendo has subtly confirmed the existence of “Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games” as separate from console exclusives following the introduction of Virtual Game Cards.