PS5 vs Switch Sales Comparison - December 2021 - Sales
by William D'Angelo , posted on 04 February 2022 / 3,609 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 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 PlayStation 5 and Switch.
The PlayStation 5 launched in November 2020, while the Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017. This does mean the holiday periods for the two consoles do not lineup.
PS5 Vs. Switch Worldwide:
Gap change in latest month: 1,381,564 - PS5
Gap change over last 12 months: 796,143 - NS
Total Lead: 520,205 - PS5
PlayStation 5 Total Sales: 16,989,982
Switch Total Sales: 16,469,777
December 2021 is the 14th month the PlayStation 5 has been available for. In the latest month, the gap grew in favor of the PlayStation 5 when compared to the aligned launch of the Nintendo Switch by 1.38 units. In the last 12 months, the Switch has outsold the PS5 0.80 million units. The PS5 is ahead of the Switch by 520,205 units.
The PlayStation 5 has sold 16.99 million units in 14 months, while the Nintendo Switch sold 16.47 million units. Month 14 for the PlayStation 5 is December 2021 and for the Nintendo Switch it is April 2018.
The Nintendo Switch crossed 20 million units sold in month 19, 30 million in month 23, and 40 million in month 33. The Nintendo Switch has sold 101.99 million units through December 2021.
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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Shouldn't the first graph say PS5 Lead?
This is going to be one to watch. I see a repeat of the double-helix incoming
Probably won't. PS5 will barely cross and keep up for the next few months. Starting month 20, it will never cross the Switch again since it will still be affected by shortage until then. At that point, Switch's momentum will be way above any PS console selling almost 10 millions more than PS4's peak year. It is currently having an unusual longevity for a Nintendo console which was the only way Sony could make it in the end. Switch is probably aiming at 150-165 millions rn after the statement of Nintendo's president. The only argument to it not being best selling console of all time was a replacement soon. Since it is not the case, i don't see how it would not end up being the case.
There is no shortage. The damand is simply that high. Manufacturing rising to meet demand means production that dwarfs any scale ever seen before. Which is going to have to happen and the increased demand is the result of permanent life style changes on the part of consumers. So demand has only been increasing as the next gen consoles have been out of stock. The demand is there to encompass all 2024 production and not just 2022 and 23. So you could say there's no real argument for the ps5 not being the best selling console of all time when the demand is uinprecedented and will result in unprecedented production to meet it.
As for the Switch, the thing to remember about statements of lifdespan and successors is that it's the same company that groups the gameboy and gameboy color as one platform. As well as constantly lying about it's plans.
I wouldn't be so sure that the shortage will be a significant factor that far out. Shortages are short-term phenomena, but in the long-term the market readjusts.
I mean it didn't surpass it this year after it's holiday period and will still be affected by stock issues this year and maybe a little next year. Switch will already be having a significant advantage and by the time PS5 gets more stock Switch will be selling 28-29 millions in a single year.
So PS5 lost about 2M compared to Switch in its last holiday season. The gap is gone and both consoles should sell about the same in the next couple of months and be on par until Switch's next holiday season.
