Switch vs PS4 in the US Sales Comparison - Switch Lead Tops 6M in December 2020 - Sales
by William D'Angelo , posted on 01 February 2021 / 2,694 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 US sales of the Nintendo Switch and the PlayStation 4.
Switch Vs. PS4 US:
Gap change in latest month: 1,912,881 - Switch
Gap change over last 12 months: 3,948,852 - Switch
Total Lead: 6,477,705 - Switch
Switch Total Sales: 26,340,217
PS4 Total Sales: 19,862,512
December 2020 is the 46th month that the Nintendo Switch has been available for. During the latest month, the gap in the US between the Switch and PlayStation 4 grew in favor of the Switch when you align launches. The Switch sold 1.91 million more units than the PS4 in the last month. In the last 12 months, the Switch has grown its lead by 3.95 million units. The Switch currently leads by 6.48 million units.
The PS4 launched in the US on November 15, 2013, while the Switch launched on March 3, 2017. Therefore, the holiday periods for the two consoles do not lineup, which is why there are big increases and decreases.
The 46th month on sale for the Switch is December 2020, while for the PS4 it is August 2017. The Switch has sold 26.34 million units, while the PS4 sold 19.86 million units during the same timeframe. The PS4 did not reach the current Switch sales until month 61 where it sold a total of 27.50 million units.
The PS4 has been available for 86 months in the US and has sold 34.55 million units. The Switch is currently 8.21 million units behind the lifetime sales of the PS4.
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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Up, up, and away
At the current pace, the Switch will not only be ahead of the PS4's holiday numbers, but the holiday after THAT as well!
Switch is gonna do 37 mill on US or even 40
There is no coming back
It seems plausible that the Switch will end up outselling the PS4 in the long run. Ten million units more for the hybrid seems an easy goal to reach, considering the Switch is still at full swing and it has a lot of life still left on it.
The more interesting comparison is going to be Europe: the strongest market for the PS4 and the general weakest for Nintendo systems. If I recall correctly, the PS4 is close to the 50m in Europe, while the Switch is slightly above 20m. The Switch's lifespan might help there, but selling +30m on their weakest market is quite a challenge. Only the Gameboy and the DS passed the 40m mark in Europe, and only the DS beat the 50m. I don't think it's going to beat the PS4 in Europe, but reaching GB numbers seems a more realistic goal.
Asia, America and Other will be up Against Sony. Europe is only place will be down by 5-10M
I do wonder how much Nintendo's reluctance in making price cuts to the Switch is going to affect its sales in the second half of its life. After all, most handhelds benefit a lot from households getting multiple units, but with the Switch being quite pricey for a handheld (even the purely handheld version is above 200€) it could make families make do with a single device, especially because of the crisis.
They'll cut the price when sales are stagnating. Every other system had pretty aggressive price cuts when need be.
The switch will probably, eventually get a price cut. But it's unlikely this year. If they stretch it to 2024, I could see one next year. If the switch gets replaced in early 2023, they might just ride it out.
But given the comments the CEO has made and current sales, there won't be a successor until March or fall of 2024. So expect a price cut around the 5th anniversary.
