Switch vs DS Sales Comparison - September 2021 - Sales

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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 PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, as well as with older platforms. 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.

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.

Switch Vs. DS Global:

Gap change in latest month: 137,117 - DS

Gap change over last 12 months: 3,103,906 - DS

Total Lead: 10,509,890 - DS

Switch Total Sales: 91,586,736

DS Total Sales: 102,096,626

September 2021 is the 55th month that the Nintendo Switch has been available for. During the latest month, the gap grew in favor of the DS by 137,117 units when compared to the Switch during the same timeframe. In the last 12 months, the DS has outsold the Switch by 3.10 million units. The DS is ahead of the Switch by 10.51 million units.

The 55th month on sale for the Nintendo Switch is September 2021, while for the DS it is May 2009. The Switch has sold 91.59 million units, while the DS sold 102.10 million units during the same timeframe.

The Nintendo DS sold 154.02 million units lifetime. The Nintendo Switch is currently 62.43 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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2zosteven (on 22 October 2021)

I think i can, I think i can.

• +9

brute (on 23 October 2021)

Switch will start to make up ground after DS's 2009 holiday. Question is, will it be enough

• +6

Kakadu18 (on 23 October 2021)

In October the Switch should close the gap by a bit again.

• +6

Kristof81 Kakadu18 (on 25 October 2021)

In June 2009 DS was pulling 370k per week on average, July - 430k (Dragon Quest IX + red DSi). Switch would have to keep selling well over 400k per week from now on till black Friday week, to have any hope of closing that gap.

• 0

Kakadu18 Kristof81 (on 25 October 2021)

It's about the average, with that high first week the Switch can afford being a bit lower for the other weeks or alot lower in one of them.

• 0

Amnesia (on 22 October 2021)

Last big fight before we know the winner for sure.

• +6

Mnementh (on 22 October 2021)

It's amazing how close the Switch is, given the extraordinary performance of the DS. Yet the Switch is currently at peak momentum and still outperformed. So I don't think it can reach DS in the end. But as it stands, it will not too far away. Maybe 130-140M lifetime?

• +6

xMetroid Mnementh (on 23 October 2021)

I think it has a fair chance of doing so since Switch's curve is peaking pretty late in its lifecycle. Unless they replace it next year, i feel like the Switch has a decent chance.

• +5

Eagle367 (on 22 October 2021)

Hopefully we'll get there

• +6

Arfen (on 22 October 2021)

Last month people were waiting for the Switch Oled and numbers went a little bit down. Will be interesting to see next months. We have Oled launch, Pokemon and Holidays...I think Switch will close the gap.

Maybe not to reach DS numbers but to be a very decent contender

• +4

Bofferbrauer2 Arfen (on 23 October 2021)

Yeah, DS will start to falter a bit next year, with sales going down to 20M. If Switch can keep up or even outsell the DS next year, it has a very decent shot at outselling it, as the year after the DS drops like a rock to 8M and then even just 3M the year after, so 32M total (rounded up) over the next 3 years.

32M, that should be more than achievable for the Switch, especially with the new OLED version having been pretty well received so far. The big question is if the current 10M+ gap will be too much to overcome or not, but I believe it should be doable to close that gap also over the next 3 years and sell about the 42M that's needed to catch up to the DS in that timespan.

• +8

xMetroid Bofferbrauer2 (on 23 October 2021)

Yea, unless Nintendo starts talking about the successor i feel like next year there is 0 chance of Switch selling under 20 millions with the lineup they are preparing and the fact it will be the first whole year with the OLED. Still crazy Switch is a release price. Feel like price cut for Lite and basic model will be mandatory next year.

To me, Switch clearly has a chance of outselling the DS. It will only depend how soon the successor comes.

• +6