Switch vs DS Sales Comparison - October 2025 - Sales
by William D'Angelo , posted on 01 December 2025 / 5,139 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 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: 192,447 - Switch
Gap change over last 12 months: 5,447,070 - Switch
Total Lead: 1,297,378 - DS
Switch Total Sales: 152,336,397
DS Total Sales: 153,633,775
October 2025 is the 104th month that the Nintendo Switch has been available for. During the latest month, the gap grew in favor of the Switch by 0.19 million units when compared to the DS during the same timeframe.
In the last 12 months, the Switch has outsold the DS by 5.45 million units. The DS is ahead of the Switch by 1.30 million units.
The 104th month on sale for the Nintendo Switch is October 2025, while for the DS it is June 2013. The Switch has sold 152.34 million units, while the DS sold 153.63 million units during the same timeframe.
The Nintendo DS sold 154.02 million units lifetime. The Nintendo Switch is currently 1.68 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 follow the author on Bluesky.
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After December, DS will be passed.
The Switch sold 4.295.421 units between November and December, last year. For it not to sell 1.68 million units and not to pass the DS, its sales have to drop more than 60% during these months compared to last year's.
4.295.421 - 60% = 1.718.168
4.295.421 - 61% = 1.675.214
It'll probably be really close or have barely surpassed it by the end of this year then cause about 60% down YoY has been the recent trend for it.
It's not impossible to finish short, but I think it will sell just enough so it outsell it. Therefore number close to those two.
Comparing to the DS, it sold 7.980.649 on 2010's November and December. The 3DS was launched in 2011 and the DS's sales in Nov. and Dec. were 2.358.572. That's a 80.5% drop.
I don't think the Switch will drop this hard, as Norion said, the Switch has been keeping a 60% drop YoY
It will be close depending on how sales hold up during the holidays. In October, the Switch 1 was down 61.5% in the Americas, 69.3% in Europe, 59.2% in Japan, and 59.8% worldwide. It will likely come down to how sales hold up in RoW. If it doesn't make it in December it will be close.
Finally a 1:1 sales comparison! Thanks, William!
awesome when it happens, no one could have predicted this with a straight face when the system released.
