Nintendo Switch Breaks Record for Longevity in Nintendo History

The Nintendo Switch has officially become the “longest-lasting” Nintendo home console, surpassing the Famicom. Launched on March 3, 2017, the Switch has now been on the market for 2,687 days without a successor, compared to the Famicom’s 2,686 days.

Nintendo’s history shows shorter gaps between hardware releases over the years. The Wii, for example, lasted almost six years before the Wii U launched. The Wii U, one of Nintendo’s less successful consoles, was quickly succeeded by the Switch after 1,566 days.

The Switch, a hybrid console, combines home and portable gaming. While it has surpassed the Nintendo DS in longevity, it is still behind the Game Boy, which remained Nintendo’s flagship handheld for 4,352 days before being succeeded by the Game Boy Advance.

Nintendo confirmed it will announce its next console within this fiscal year, ending March 2025. By then, the Switch will have been on the market for over 2,920 days.

Nintendo has sold 141.32 million Switch consoles to date. If it meets its sales forecast for this year, the Switch could rival the Nintendo DS and PlayStation 2 as one of the best-selling consoles in history.

The Switch’s success is notable as hardware sales decline, especially outside Japan. However, it remains a strong performer in the gaming market, highlighting its enduring popularity and impact.