26 Nov 2024 10:06 PM +00:00 UTC

PlayStation 2 Changes Things For Nintendo Switch

Credit: Sony

As the Nintendo Switch prepares to ride off into the sunset next year, the system is fast approaching 150 million units sold. This puts the console close to the 158 million PS2 units Sony reported in October.

With many expecting Nintendo's handheld hybrid to overtake the PlayStation 2 sales figures very soon, Sony has just raised the stakes in the race for the best-selling console ever.

In celebration of PlayStation's 30th anniversary (and 'totally' not to 1-up Nintendo), Sony has revealed on their website that their PlayStation 2 console has sold over 160 million units.

These sales began 24 years ago and were bolstered significantly by the fact that the unit had a DVD player built-in (trust me, this was HUGE at the time) for a price well under most standalone players.

Of course, the PlayStation 2 also has a fantastic library of games and was beloved by many. It solidified Sony's place at the gaming table, so these sales figures, while high, come as no surprise. Well... besides the timing of the announcement.

The Nintendo Switch currently sits at around 146.04 million units, as reported in September 2024. This places it very close to the previous PS2 numbers, as mentioned above. For Sony to 'magic' up an additional 2 million units sold so close to Nintendo approaching the previous milestone seems a tad suspicious.

Whether this is an attempt to delay Nintendo's climb to the top or not, Sony should certainly be proud of their PS2 and its legacy. After all, Nintendo's own DS still sits above the Switch in second place, with 154 units sold in its lifetime.

We just need to wait even longer for the Switch to surpass the now-moved goalposts and finally claim the crown.

The Switch 2 is set to be released sometime in 2025. It remains to be seen if the new console will retain the Switch branding or if Nintendo will 'switch it up' for their next device.

Congratulations to Sony on this phenomenal achievement, but after this, they will definitely have caused some seething at Mario's house!

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Alister Kennedy

Senior Editor

GTA, Starfield, Nintendo, and Handheld Expert

Starting at the AllGames Network in 2012, Alister has since written for many gaming outlets, such as Game Rant and The Xbox Hub. Starfield expert, GTA-obsessed, Sonic-playing, Mass Effect-loving, multi-format gamer.

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