After more than seven years, the Nintendo Switch, which is one of the most beloved consoles of all time, is nearing the end of its run.
In its latest financial briefing, Nintendo confirmed that it’s now shifting its primary development focus to the Nintendo Switch 2, marking the beginning of the end for the hybrid console that changed portable gaming forever.
The company says it plans to “expand our business around this new platform” going forward, with the next generation taking center stage in its roadmap.
That doesn’t mean the original Switch will vanish overnight. Nintendo says it will continue to sell Switch hardware “while taking consumer demand and the business environment into consideration.” Several major titles are still on the way for the current platform, including Metroid Prime 4 which arrives next month, but the message is clear that the future belongs to the Switch 2.
It’s a natural transition, yet still a little bittersweet for fans. Since its 2017 debut, the Switch has sold over 154 million units worldwide, placing it among the best-selling consoles ever. The hybrid mix of handheld and docked play that redefined what console gaming could look like.
Of course, there’s also a fair bit of nostalgia and frustration. To some, it is unfair to sunset a console that is still perfectly functional, while to others, it’s the natural next step.
Even so, Nintendo’s successor is already off to a great start. Since June, the Switch 2 has sold 10.36 million copies, with 84% of consumers upgrading from the original console, proving that there is a dedicated set of gamers looking to continue playing their games of choice.
While the original Switch won’t disappear from store shelves just yet, its time is running out. And for a console that delivered some of the most memorable gaming moments of the past decade, it’s a well-earned farewell.
