Top Sellers: Leading Up to the Release of Switch 2, the Five Highest-Grossing Gaming Devices Ever
From Old-School Gaming Consoles to Modern Marvels
From the retro gaming consoles of the '70s to the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, hundreds of millions have been snatched up by gamers eager to dive into their favorite franchises ranging from "Assassin's Creed" to "Zelda."
These five top-selling consoles together have moved around 700 million units.
PlayStation 2: 160 Million and Counting
Sony, the Japanese tech powerhouse, unleashed a global shockwave with the release of the PlayStation 2 in 2000. The console's midnight unveiling in the United States ignited a continent-wide fervor, leading some people to storm stores just to grab a unit.
Its initial success can be attributed to its backward compatibility—players could still enjoy original PlayStation games—and its DVD-playing capabilities. Critics initially dismissed the console, but a barrage of hits from game series like "Grand Theft Auto", "Grand Turismo", "Final Fantasy", "Tekken", and "Metal Gear Solid" escalated its popularity, surpassing 160 million units sold globally.
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Nintendo DS: A Groundbreaking Design
In 2004 and 2005, the Nintendo DS introduced a dual-screen format that revolutionized gaming, building on the unparalleled success of the 90's Game Boy. Its innovations included a built-in mic and internet connection.
Its success was fueled by hit adaptations such as "Super Mario", "Zelda", and "Pokemon". However, it also garnered fame for breakout cultural phenomena like "Animal Crossing" and "Nintendogs" – a real-time pet simulation game that allowed players to groom and virtually walk their dogs.
Nintendo reported sales of over 154 million units.
Nintendo Switch: Tablet Magic
Upon its release in 2017, the Nintendo Switch caught fire with its tablet format, which enabled users to play on both large screens at home and on public transport. Tracks like the latest installments of the "Zelda" franchise and "Animal Crossing: New Horizons", a social-interaction game, skyrocketed its popularity.
The game became a global smash hit in 2020 as much of the world went into lockdown due to the Covid pandemic. Nintendo reported selling over 152 million units by the end of March this year.
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Game Boy: A 90's Cultural Phenomenon
The Game Boy and its 1998 Color version were a cultural sensation in the late '90s and early 2000s, helping launch some of the world's most iconic characters. Pikachu, Pokemon's lovable mascot, made its debut on the Game Boy in 1996, spawning a global empire of films, series, games, and toys.
With hits like "Tetris" and "Super Mario Land", it helped cement Nintendo's status as a 90's market kingpin, eventually recording sales of over 118 million units.
PlayStation 4: A Modern Classic
While the PlayStation 2 helped sinking Sega's Dreamcast at the dawn of the new millennium, the PlayStation 4 (PS4) held its ground against Microsoft's Xbox series, eventually winning. With sales of 113.5 million units by 2020, according to the Japanese firm, it outsold its Microsoft rival by far.
Success came from well-received updates to famous game series like "Grand Theft Auto" and "The Last of Us", as well as film adaptations like "Marvel's Spider-Man" and "Star Wars Battlefront".
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Top-Selling Video Game Consoles:
- PlayStation 2 (PS2) - Over 160 million units
- Nintendo DS - Over 154 million units
- Nintendo Switch - Over 152 million units (as of early 2025)
- Game Boy - Over 118 million units
- PlayStation 4 (PS4) - Over 113 million units
Sources: 1. Sony Entertainment; 2. Nintendo; 3. Nintendo; 4. Sony Entertainment; 5. Sony Entertainment, Microsoft.
The Sony PlayStation 2's success in the global market can be attributed to its backward compatibility and DVD-playing capabilities, along with a barrage of hits from game series like "Grand Theft Auto", "Grand Turismo", "Final Fantasy", "Tekken", and "Metal Gear Solid", leading to sales of over 160 million units.
The Nintendo DS, introduced in 2004, revolutionized gaming with its dual-screen format and innovations like a built-in mic and internet connection. Hit adaptations such as "Super Mario", "Zelda", and "Pokemon" and breakout cultural phenomena like "Animal Crossing" and "Nintendogs" contributed to sales of over 154 million units.
[From Old-School Gaming Consoles to Modern Marvels]
