Key Takeaways
- PlayStation has officially confirmed the PS2 sold 160 million units, not 155 million as was previously estimated.
- That has solidified its spot as the best-selling console of all time.
- It also means the Nintendo Switch now needs to sell 14 million more units, not nine million, to surpass it.
PlayStation has launched a new section on its website for its 30th anniversary dedicated to celebrating all of its consoles, from the PS1 to the PlayStation VR2. The official sales numbers are included in the older console sections and the PS2‘s page confirms what Nintendo feared – it really will need to sell more than 160 million Switches to become the best-selling console of all time.
The PS2 has been the best-selling console ever for the better part of 20 years. However, the 155 million units sold that it previously boasted until yesterday was merely an estimate. It was known that the PS2 had outsold the second best-selling console of all time, the Nintendo DS, and since the Nintendo handheld sold 154 million consoles, the PS2 was assumed to have sold at least 155 million and everyone left it at that.
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Earlier this year, departing PlayStation boss Jim Ryan made an almost throwaway comment noting PlayStation had actually sold more than 160 million PS2s. At almost any other period since the end of the PS2 era until now, that comment would have been met with an “Oh, cool” and the numbers would have been updated. With the Switch racking up numbers, knowing exactly how well the PS2 performed is a little more important.
PlayStation Confirms The PS2 Sold 160 Million Units
The Switch Still Has A Lot Of Work To Do
Nintendo updated its sales numbers recently, confirming that the Switch has solidified its position as the third best-selling console of all time with a tad over 146 million units sold to date. However, with a Switch 2 announcement in the offing, sales of Nintendo’s newest console have started to slow. That combined with PlayStation’s now-official inflated final number for the PS2 might mean the top spot is out of reach for the Switch.
It certainly doesn’t feel coincidental that PlayStation has chosen now to confirm how many PS2s it sold. It seems feasible that Nintendo will sell nine million more Switches and surpass 155 million. However, the additional five million consoles it now needs to sell to move past the PS2 might be too tall an order, especially with many who don’t already have a Switch potentially waiting until the Switch 2 to buy a new console.
It might depend on how long Nintendo continues to manufacture and sell the Switch once the console’s successor has been released. PlayStation didn’t discontinue the PS2 until 2013, basically keeping them available for the entirety of the PS3’s run. With news that a Nintendo Switch eShop shutdown has been announced for 2026 in China, there’s already an early indicator Nintendo won’t be doing the same thing for the Switch.
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 launched in 2000, and in its twelve-year lifespan it became the most successful console ever, at over 155 million units shipped. This was thanks to a strong library of games, from series including Grand Theft Auto, Gran Turismo. Final Fantasy, and Metal Gear Solid.
- Brand
- Sony
- Storage
- Up to 128 MB memory card
- Original Release Date
- October 26, 2000
- Original MSRP (USD)
- $299, £299