Handheld Gaming Console Sales Statistics 2026

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Nintendo reported 23.68 million Switch 2 units sold in worldwide as of 30 June 2026. Omdia’s August 2025 research projected 2.3 million PC gaming handhelds sold across all of 2025.

This handheld gaming console sales report covers Nintendo’s quarterly shipments, regional splits, US tracking, PC handhelds, market-size estimates, 2026 price changes and lifetime totals.

Handheld Gaming Console Sales Statistics 2026

  • 23.68MSwitch 2 lifetime sell-in as of 30 June 2026
  • 3.82MSwitch 2 units in April–June 2026, down 34.4% year on year
  • 16.50MNintendo’s Switch 2 forecast for the year ending March 2027
  • 2.3MPC gaming handhelds Omdia projected for 2025
  • $12.4BGlobal Market Insights’ 2026 gaming handheld market estimate

How Many Handheld Gaming Consoles Did Nintendo Sell per Quarter?

Switch 2 sell-in peaked at 7.01 million units in October–December 2025. April–June 2026 added 3.82 million, 34.4% below the 5.82 million launch quarter a year earlier.

The original Switch added 0.66 million units in April–June 2026, down 31.8% year on year. Sell-in counts units sold to retailers and business partners, plus Nintendo’s direct website sales.

Source: Nintendo Co., Ltd., Q1 FY2027 Financial Results Explanatory Material, quarters from April 2025 to June 2026

Did Switch 2 Software Sales Fall Too?

No. Switch 2 software sell-in rose 9.2% year on year to 9.46 million units in April–June 2026.

Lifetime Switch 2 software reached 58.17 million units by 30 June 2026, a total that sits alongside earlier Nintendo revenue and unit figures.

Nintendo’s dedicated video game platform sales fell 13.1% to ¥483.0 billion in the quarter. The company attributed the drop primarily to lower hardware unit sales.

Source: Nintendo Co., Ltd., Q1 FY2027 Financial Results Explanatory Material, April–June 2026

Handheld Gaming Console Sales by Region: Americas Lead With 7.95 Million

The Americas account for 7.95 million of the 23.68 million Switch 2 units sold in through 30 June 2026. Japan follows at 6.70 million, Europe at 5.37 million and Nintendo’s “Other” region at 3.66 million.

A Japanese price revision took effect on 25 May 2026. Nintendo said Switch 2 sell-through in Japan’s video game market stayed solid after the change.

Source: Nintendo Co., Ltd., Switch 2 hardware sell-in by region, life-to-date as of 30 June 2026

How Many Switch 2 Consoles Sold in the United States?

PeriodSwitch 2 US units sold
June 2025 (launch month)1.6 million
June–December 20254.4 million
June 2025–May 2026 (first 12 months)5.9 million

Source: Circana US unit sales, June 2025–May 2026, as reported by Circana analyst Mat Piscatella

Circana ranked Switch 2 as the best-selling US hardware of 2025 in both units and dollars. Its 2025 pace ran 35% ahead of PlayStation 4 over the same number of months.

The 5.9 million first-year total ranks second in Circana’s tracked history, behind Game Boy Advance at 6.5 million. Total US hardware spending rose 9% in 2025 versus 2024.

Source: Circana, calendar 2025 and June 2025–May 2026

PC Handhelds: Omdia Projected 2.3 Million Sold in 2025

Omdia’s 18 August 2025 release projected 2.3 million PC gaming handhelds, including Steam Deck, sold worldwide in 2025. That would be 32% growth on the 1.7 million sold in 2024.

By 2029, Omdia expects annual PC handheld sales of 4.7 million. The same release forecast more than 20 million combined Switch 2 and Switch units sold globally in 2025.

Omdia senior analyst James McWhirter called Steam Deck the market-leading PC handheld. Steam Deck runs on Valve’s storefront, whose user and revenue statistics are tracked separately.

These Omdia figures count devices only. Spending on games themselves appears in broader games industry revenue data.

Source: Omdia Games Handhelds Database, press release of 18 August 2025 (2024 actual; 2025 and 2029 projections)

Is the Handheld Gaming Console Market Shrinking in 2026?

Global Market Insights estimates the gaming handheld market at $12.9 billion in 2025 and $12.4 billion in 2026. It forecasts $16.6 billion by 2035, a 3.3% compound annual growth rate from 2026.

The report measures revenue across dedicated handheld consoles, hybrid gaming systems, handheld gaming PCs and Android gaming handhelds. It puts Nintendo’s 2025 share above 26.7%, with the top five vendors holding 78.6% combined.

ScopeYearMarket value
Global2025 (estimate)$12.9 billion
Global2026 (estimate)$12.4 billion
Global2035 (forecast)$16.6 billion
United States2025 (estimate)$3.9 billion

Source: Global Market Insights, Gaming Handheld Market report, 2026–2035 edition (US CAGR forecast: 2.4%, 2026–2035)

What Does Nintendo Expect for Switch 2 Hardware?

Nintendo forecasts 16.50 million Switch 2 units for the year ending March 2027. That is 16.9% below the 19.86 million sold in the year ended March 2026.

HardwareFY ended Mar 2026 (actual)FY ending Mar 2027 (forecast)Change
Nintendo Switch 219.86 million16.50 million-16.9%
Nintendo Switch3.80 million2.00 million-47.4%

Source: Nintendo Co., Ltd., sales units forecast, unchanged as of 6 August 2026

Price Increases Hit Switch 2 and Steam Deck in 2026

Nintendo of America raised the US Switch 2 MSRP from $449.99 to $499.99 on 1 September 2026. The company cited changes in market conditions expected to extend over the medium to long term.

Source: Nintendo of America, price revision notice announced 8 May 2026

Nintendo’s FY2027 forecast factors in about ¥100.0 billion of cost-of-sales impact. The company links that figure to rising component prices, particularly memory, and tariff measures.

Source: Nintendo Co., Ltd., Q1 FY2027 Financial Results Explanatory Material, 6 August 2026

Valve raised Steam Deck OLED prices on 27 May 2026. The 512GB model went from $549 to $789, and the 1TB model from $649 to $949.

Valve said the hardware itself had not changed and that the new prices reflect component costs and global logistics challenges.

Source: Valve, “Steam Deck back in stock, with updated pricing,” 27 May 2026

Lifetime Handheld Gaming Console Sales: Switch Tops Nintendo at 156.59 Million

The original Switch reached 156.59 million units by 30 June 2026. The Nintendo DS finished at 154.02 million.

Nintendo said Switch passed the DS by the end of December 2025, giving it the highest sales volume of any Nintendo hardware. The original Switch’s sales history runs back to its March 2017 launch.

Switch 2 stood at 23.68 million after about 13 months. That already tops the GameCube’s 21.74 million lifetime total.

Source: Nintendo Co., Ltd., dedicated video game sales units, life-to-date as of 30 June 2026

Which Switch 2 Games Have Sold the Most?

Mario Kart World leads at 15.39 million units, a total that includes copies bundled with the hardware. Donkey Kong Bananza follows at 4.78 million.

RankTitleUnits sold
1Mario Kart World15.39 million
2Donkey Kong Bananza4.78 million
3Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition3.99 million
4Pokémon Pokopia3.68 million
5Kirby Air Riders1.90 million
6Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition1.15 million

Source: Nintendo Co., Ltd., top-selling Switch 2 title sales units, life-to-date as of 30 June 2026 (includes bundled and downloadable copies)

FAQs

How many Nintendo Switch 2 consoles have been sold?

Nintendo reported 23.68 million Switch 2 units as of 30 June 2026. That is sell-in: units sold to retailers and partners, plus direct online sales. Switch 2 software reached 58.17 million units.

What is Nintendo’s best-selling handheld console?

The original Nintendo Switch, at 156.59 million units as of 30 June 2026. It passed the Nintendo DS, which finished at 154.02 million, by the end of December 2025.

How many PC gaming handhelds were sold in 2025?

Omdia projected 2.3 million PC gaming handhelds sold worldwide in 2025, including Steam Deck. That was 32% above the 1.7 million sold in 2024. The projection was published in August 2025.

Are Switch 2 sales falling, as Reddit threads claim?

Quarterly sell-in fell 34.4% year on year to 3.82 million in April–June 2026, measured against the launch quarter. Nintendo forecasts 16.50 million units for the year to March 2027, down from 19.86 million.

How big is the handheld gaming market?

Global Market Insights values it at $12.9 billion in 2025 and $12.4 billion in 2026. The firm forecasts $16.6 billion by 2035, a 3.3% compound annual growth rate.

Sources

https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2026/260806_2e.pdf

https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/hard_soft/index.html

https://omdia.tech.informa.com/pr/2025/aug/2-point-3-million-pc-gaming-handhelds-will-be-sold-in-2025

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/gaming-handheld-market

Bryan

Bryan is a passionate gaming writer who covers everything from the latest releases to in-depth strategy guides and industry trends. With a sharp eye for detail and a love for immersive gameplay, he creates content that helps players get more out of every game—whether they’re casual gamers or hardcore enthusiasts.