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Switch vs DS Sales Comparison in Japan - December 2022

Switch vs DS Sales Comparison in Japan - December 2022 - Sales

by William D'Angelo , posted on 03 February 2023 / 5,235 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 Japanese sales of the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo DS.

The DS launched in December 2004 in Japan and the Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017. Therefore, the normal holiday periods and the Japanese Golden Week holiday for the two consoles do not lineup.

Switch vs DS Sales Comparison in Japan - December 2022

Switch vs DS Sales Comparison in Japan - December 2022

Switch Vs. DS Japan:

Gap change in latest month: 512,040 - Switch

Gap change over last 12 months: 1,452,674 - Switch

Total Lead: 3,333,229 - DS

Switch Total Sales: 27,940,273

DS Total Sales: 31,273,502

December 2022 is the 70th month that the Nintendo Switch has been available for in Japan. During the latest month, the Switch has outsold the DS by 512,040 units when you align the launches.

In the last 12 months, the Switch has outsold the DS by 1.45 million units. The DS is currently ahead of the Switch by 3.33 million units.

The 70th month for the Switch is December 2022, while for the DS it is September 2010. The Switch has sold 27.94 million units, while the DS sold 31.27 million units during the same timeframe. The DS sold current Switch sales in month 58.

The DS has sold 32.99 million units lifetime in Japan. The Switch is currently 5.05 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 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Twitter @TrunksWD.


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14 Comments
Slownenberg (on 28 January 2023)

Switch will win for sure

  • +7
DaAndy Slownenberg (on 28 January 2023)

Yes, thats the way it will go. Basically negative miracles need to happen so that Switch will not outsell NDS in Japan anymore.

  • +3
Garrus Slownenberg (on 29 January 2023)

does it matter after being in second place for 7 years? the entire time the systems were being used the DS was more popular

i find it a bit funny the whole Xbox 360 versus PS3 argument, people just bought the PS3 for blu-ray, more games were sold on the 360 as the installed base was also higher for the xbox 360 the entire 7 years of the generation... does it matter the Xbox stopped selling in year 8 and 9 after the Xbox One released?

  • -5
eddy7eddy Garrus (on 29 January 2023)

Well, that's kind of the reason why we are here comparing both consoles, and at this point seeing how Nintendo can beat their best selling console with Switch, makes everything exciting (Or scary for Playstation/Xbox/PC/Mac/SteamDeck/DS/OUYA Fanboys).

  • +4
Garrus eddy7eddy (on 01 February 2023)

what is the point in winning after the generation is over? i'll have a new system and not be playing the old one

  • 0
eddy7eddy Garrus (on 01 February 2023)

It's not about winning,
It's about sending a message.

  • +1
UnderwaterFunktown (on 28 January 2023)

Catching up fast now, still a long way to go, but I think it'll get there. Btw if you're looking for more charts to do PS5 vs PS4 in Japan could get interesting going forward, maybe with PS3 thrown in as well.

  • +4
trunkswd UnderwaterFunktown (on 28 January 2023)

That is a good idea. Before the most recent month or 2 it was looking like there was no chance PS5 would end up anywhere near PS4. But now it does.

  • +6
xMetroid (on 28 January 2023)

Switch will become the best selling console in japan this year.

  • +1
Kakadu18 xMetroid (on 28 January 2023)

Not this year, it's not going to sell 5mil units this year.

  • +4
Garrus Kakadu18 (on 29 January 2023)

it will win after the 8th year started... who cares right?

is it a good thing if something sells the most, if that means that customers were frustrated and stuck with old hardware?

like Apple not updating the Mac Mini once for 4 years... is that a good thing? A new Mac Mini every year is better :)

  • -5
eddy7eddy Garrus (on 29 January 2023)

What? Did Godzilla...

  • 0
Kakadu18 Garrus (on 29 January 2023)

So you're saying the Switch is outdated and they should release a new one every year.
Do you buy a new phone every year?

  • 0
Garrus Kakadu18 (on 01 February 2023)

no that is not what I said

The DS generation is over in 3 months. You can't make meaningful comparisons anymore after the 3DS comes out!

it's over, next!

  • 0