PS2 is No Longer the Best-Selling Video Game Console of All Time in the US

The PlayStation 2 has lost its status as history’s best-selling video game console in the US, with the Nintendo Switch now taking first place. Despite being released more than 20 years ago, the PS2 has remained at the top of sales charts for years, thanks to its immense popularity at launch and the dedicated fan base that followed. Now, that era of dominance has officially come to an end, at least in the U.S.

While the PS2 has sold over 155 million units globally, the Switch’s accessibility helped it catch up in a relatively short amount of time. The Switch also has the obvious advantage of still being in production, whereas Sony stopped manufacturing PlayStation 2 consoles a long time ago, so it’s impressive that it’s taken this long for another system to top it. How long the Switch will hold the number one spot is uncertain, but it’s a groundbreaking moment for the video game industry regardless.

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Circana Executive Director and industry analyst Mat Piscatella posted about the news on Bluesky, revealing the Switch has sold 46.6 million units in the U.S. That’s enough to push it ahead of the long-reigning champion, the PS2, though it’s worth noting that these figures are specific to the U.S. market and don’t account for handhelds like the DS. While it’s a monumental moment, it may not be a surprise to everyone, as the Switch was 2022’s best-selling console in the U.S., so it was already on track for something big. Interestingly, it still became the all-time leader despite its sales dropping by 3% in 2024.

In the global market, the PS2 is still king, though the Switch is quickly catching up. With Nintendo gearing up for the Switch 2’s launch, though, sales of the OG hybrid console may continue to fall. If that happens, it may take a future system to surpass the mighty PlayStation 2 as the world’s best-selling gaming platform. How far ahead the Switch is in the U.S. market is also unclear, as Piscatella did not reveal the full list of best-sellers in the country when going over the news.

Top 10 Best-Selling Consoles of All Time Globally

1. Sony PlayStation 2 (160 million units)
2. Nintendo Switch (146.06 million units)
3. Sony PlayStation 4 (117.2 million units)
4. Sony PlayStation (102.49 million units)
5. Nintendo Wii (101.63 million units)
6. Sony PlayStation 3 (87.4 million units)
7. Microsoft Xbox 360 (84 million units)
8. Sony PlayStation 5 (65.6 million units)
9. Nintendo Entertainment System (61.91 million units)
10. Microsoft Xbox One (58 million units)

Another interesting trend in the global top 10 list is that it’s mostly a battle between Sony and Nintendo. Only two Xbox consoles made the list, and that’s only the case when not counting handhelds. Considering how Xbox predicts hardware sales to keep declining over the next few years, it seems unlikely that the company will gain ground in terms of all-time sales, at least for now.

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PlayStation 2

The PlayStation 2 was Sony’s direct “sequel” to their original PlayStation and stands as one of the best-selling and most beloved consoles of all time. With a catalog of amazing games, it stood strong against the GameCube and Xbox in the sixth-generation of the console wars.

Brand

Sony

Original Release Date

October 26, 2000

Original MSRP (USD)

$299, £299

Weight

4.85 lb