Switch vs 3DS in Japan Sales Comparison – Switch Continues to Close the Gap in July 2020 - Sales
by William D'Angelo , posted on 18 August 2020 / 4,546 Views
The VGChartz sales comparison series of articles are updated monthly and each one focuses on a different sales comparison using our estimated video game hardware figures. The charts include comparisons between the 7th generation and 8th generation platforms, as well as comparisons within the 8th generation. There are articles based on our worldwide estimates, as well as the US, Europe, and Japan.
This monthly series compares the aligned Japanese sales of the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS.
Switch Vs. 3DS Japan:
Gap change in latest month: 361,302 - Switch
Gap change over last 12 months: 1,855,818 - Switch
Total Lead: 1,274,081 - 3DS
Switch Total Sales: 14,541,971
3DS Total Sales: 15,816,052
July 2020 is the 41st month that the Nintendo Switch has been available for in Japan. During the latest month, the Switch closed the gap to the 3DS by 361,302 units. In the last 12 months, the Switch has outsold the 3DS by 1.86 million units. The 3DS is currently ahead of the Switch by 1.17 million units.
The 3DS launched in February 2011 in Japan and the Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017. This does mean the normal holiday periods and the Japanese Golden Week holiday for the two consoles are off by one month.
The 41st month for the Switch is July 2020, while for the 3DS it is June 2014. The Switch has sold 14.54 million units, while the 3DS sold 15.82 million units during the same timeframe.
The 3DS has sold 24.62 million units lifetime in Japan through May 2020. The Switch is currently 10.08 million units behind the lifetime sales of the 3DS.
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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I expect that Switch may pass 3DS during the Christmas period but the 3DS will overtake one last time before Switch pulls ahead and stays ahead late next year.
We should see a cross in early 2021, maybe even during holidays this year.
I guess Switch should be able to surpass 3DS in the end. But we should not underestimate the legs 3DS had. Sales peak was in year 2, but numbers fell quite slowly. I had some discussion about that in another forum recently. ;) 3DS sold in years 5, 6 and 7 (2015-2017) roughly 2.3 million + 1.9 million + 1.6 million. So it was a very small drop only yoy for some time. Switch maybe will not have a live as long as 3DS. We are currently basically in 2026 for Switch sales. I am not sure if it will not maybe be completely off market before 2026. Sure 3DS is basically selling like nothing anymore this year (maybe 80-90k for whole year), so it is basically not much different from being off market. But still I think Switch can handle it.
Switch won't have a problem dispensing with 3DS. Switch will probably be at 18 million by the end of this year, and next year will probably be at least 5 million. So just by the end of next year it will likely be well within 2 million of 3DS lifetime total, blowing by it 3DS life time sales in 2022, with plenty of time left in Switch's life before it is even replaced.
