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Switch vs DS Sales Comparison - Switch Closes the Gap in September 2020

Switch vs DS Sales Comparison - Switch Closes the Gap in September 2020 - Sales

by William D'Angelo , posted on 13 October 2020 / 2,977 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 worldwide sales of the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo DS.

Switch vs DS Sales Comparison - Switch Closes the Gap in September 2020

Switch vs DS Sales Comparison - Switch Closes the Gap in September 2020

Switch vs DS Sales Comparison - Switch Closes the Gap in September 2020

Switch Vs. DS Global:

Gap change in latest month: 725,836 - Switch

Gap change over last 12 months: 1,583,205 - DS

Total Lead: 6,612,350 - DS

Switch Total Sales: 65,713,911

DS Total Sales: 72,326,261

September 2020 is the 43rd month that the Nintendo Switch has been available for. During the latest month, the gap grew in favor of the Switch by 725,836 units when compared to the Switch during the same timeframe. In the last 12 months, the DS has outsold the Switch by 1,58 million units. The DS is ahead of the Switch by 6.61 million units.

The DS launched in November 2004 in North America, December 2004 in Japan, and March 2005 in Europe, while the Nintendo Switch launched worldwide in March 2017. Therefore, the holiday periods for the two consoles do not lineup, which is why there are big increases and decreases.

The 43rd month on sale for the Nintendo Switch is September 2020, while for the DS it is May 2008. The Switch has sold 65.71 million units, while the DS sold 72.34 million units during the same timeframe. The DS reached current Switch sales in month 39.

The Nintendo DS sold 154.02 million units lifetime. The Nintendo Switch is currently 88.31 million units behind the lifetime sales of the DS.

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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13 Comments

The_Liquid_Laser
The_Liquid_Laser (on 13 October 2020)

Expected Switch to only pull ahead by a little this month, but it actually did 700k+ more than the DS. Switch is doing more than just barely keeping pace with the DS. It's seriously gaining ground and the holidays are still ahead. It will probably end up close to tied with the DS, launch aligned, by the end of December. Also, the Switch only needs to keep pace with the DS to outsell it in the long run. The DS had the steepest sales decline of any successful system ever.

  • +7
Jumpin
Jumpin (on 14 October 2020)

It got smacked hard by the iPhone, which swooped in and stole the late adopter market. But I think the Switch has kind of outdone iOS/Android and is winning back that segment. Maybe we'll see, in the Switch, closer to what the DS could have otherwise achieved.

  • +1
The_Liquid_Laser
The_Liquid_Laser (on 14 October 2020)

I do think some of these mobile games that Nintendo makes, like Animal Crossing Pocket Camp, are helping bring people back to the Switch. These mobile games are really marketing for the main Switch games.

  • +1
Amnesia
Amnesia (on 13 October 2020)

Looks like a 140M for the Switch.

  • +7
Mnementh
Mnementh (on 13 October 2020)

That Switch is even able to match the momentum of the monster that is the DS for a while is a real incredible.

  • +6
javi741
javi741 (on 13 October 2020)

Holy shit the Switch is gaining a lead over the prime DS! The Switch will reach an astronomical number of sales, maybe 140M. Its funny cause just last year people began saying it was over between the DS and Switch comparison but the Switch is not only holding its ground, its gaining ground. Who would have thought after the disaster of the Wii zu the NX or Switch would be able to sell 30M in one year, which is more than twice the Wii U's lifetime sales that took 4.5 years to reach 13M sold.

  • +4
Ryng
Ryng (on 13 October 2020)

Switch will win this. So far the gap is very small and we are right in the DS peak.
Switch peak (2020/2021) is gonna be at DS level of 30M yearly, but most important it won't drop like a roch.
DS went from 30m in 2009 to 20m in 2010 to 6m in 2011, and then only 3m the years to come. Switch YOY drop won't be so huge.

  • +3
PAOerfulone
PAOerfulone (on 13 October 2020)

The Switch should be able to keep up with the DS, gaining and losing some ground here and there, within the next 2.5 years. The question mark will be in the legs. Month 77 for the DS is when the 3DS came out, unless I'm mistaken. Then, once the 3DS got its price cut down to $170, on top of being backwards compatible, DS sales plummeted. They went from 20 million in 2010 to just ~8.8 million in 2011, then 3 million in 2012, and a dismal 800k in 2013, and that was all she wrote.
If the Switch's legs are stronger and sales hold respectfully well after Switch 2 or whatever their next system is comes out, then the Switch will have a very good chance of passing the DS.

  • +2
aris4me
aris4me (on 13 October 2020)

It can do 150 ++ Nintendo give switch time and games and it can definitely do it!

  • +2
Bofferbrauer2
Bofferbrauer2 (on 14 October 2020)

Just the fact that the Switch is able to keep up with the DS at it's height is crazy enough, but now the Switch is actually gaining ground a bit, which is absolutely insane!

  • +1
TheBraveGallade
TheBraveGallade (on 14 October 2020)

"On your left"
Its going to blow past the ds by march considering MHR

  • +1
Eagle367
Eagle367 (on 13 October 2020)

Damn switch is actually gaining ground. It could be the one to outsell both PS2 and DS

  • +1
160rmf
160rmf (on 14 October 2020)

People in the past: "DS lite when?"
Switch now: "DS lite what?"

  • 0