Groundbreaking Predictions: Switch 2 Dominates Before Launch

Nintendo Switch 2 Projected as Top-Selling Next-Gen Console

Market research firm DFC Intelligence forecasts robust sales for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, predicting it will outsell competitors. Their 2024 Video Game Market Report and Forecast, released December 17th, positions the Switch 2 as the "clear winner" in the next-gen console race.

Dominating the Market: 80 Million Units by 2028

DFC Intelligence projects Nintendo to lead the console market, leaving Microsoft and Sony behind. This projection stems from the Switch 2's anticipated 2025 release, giving it a significant head start over rivals. The report estimates sales of 15-17 million units in 2025, escalating to over 80 million by 2028. The high demand may even challenge Nintendo's production capacity.

While Sony and Microsoft are reportedly developing handheld consoles, these remain largely conceptual. DFC Intelligence anticipates new consoles from these companies by 2028, leaving a considerable window for the Switch 2's dominance. The report suggests only one of these post-Switch 2 consoles will achieve significant success, potentially a hypothetical "PS6," leveraging PlayStation's established fanbase and strong intellectual properties.

Nintendo's success is further underscored by the Switch surpassing PlayStation 2 lifetime US sales, reaching 46.6 million units sold. Circana (formerly NPD) analyst Mat Piscatella highlighted this achievement on BlueSky, noting the Switch's second place ranking in all-time US video game hardware sales, behind only the Nintendo DS. This is notable despite a reported 3% decline in Switch yearly sales.

Industry Growth on the Horizon

DFC Intelligence's report paints a positive outlook for the video game industry, projecting healthy growth through the end of the decade after a recent slump. 2025 is anticipated as a particularly strong year, fueled by new releases like the Switch 2 and Grand Theft Auto VI.

The gaming audience is also expected to expand, exceeding 4 billion players by 2027. The rise of "high-end gaming-on-the-go" and the influence of esports and gaming influencers contribute to this growth, driving hardware sales across PC and consoles.