Switch 2 Becomes Second Fastest-Selling Console in US History After Just One Year

Nintendo's Switch 2 has achieved a remarkable commercial milestone, becoming the second fastest-selling console in US history after just 12 months on sale. According to newly released US hardware sales data for May 2026, the console shifted a whopping number of units in its first year, complementing Nintendo's earlier end-of-year financial report that placed global Switch 2 sales just shy of 20 million units. The achievement is made all the more striking by the current state of the competition: PlayStation recorded its worst May in decades, while Xbox suffered its worst May ever — painting a picture of a console market where Nintendo currently stands alone at the top.

The momentum surrounding Switch 2 extends well beyond raw hardware numbers. Nintendo's software ecosystem is firing on all cylinders, with a new Star Fox remake generating buzz for its stunning full orchestral soundtrack — praised by critics as a loving tribute to the iconic Star Fox 64 score — as well as the return of a beloved Expert Mode Easter egg that lets players outfit Fox McCloud in a pair of cool aviators. Meanwhile, Nintendo is leaning into its eShop with a major Summer Sale featuring 84 Switch 1 and 2 titles, and fans are eagerly speculating about the future of the platform after Nintendo pointedly refused to confirm or deny whether DS or 3DS games could be coming to Switch 2 during a recent shareholder Q&A session.

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