Nintendo's latest quarterly earnings report has been released and the numbers reveal that the Nintendo Switch has outsold the Xbox One's most recent estimated figures.
The current best-selling console of this generation is the PlayStation 4, with 102.8 million units sold to date, making it the second best-selling home console of all time. The Nintendo Wii U faltered during its run, selling only 13.56 million units, but the Nintendo Switch has stormed ahead in just two years and has already outsold the GameCube and the Nintendo 64.
Nintendo has released its Q2 financial report which has records dating to September 30. According to the report, the Nintendo Switch has sold 41.6 million units to date, which means that it has come very close to outselling the Super Nintendo. A strong 2020 holiday season might help push it over that line.
The most interesting aspect of these numbers is that the Nintendo Switch might have outsold the Xbox One around the world. Microsoft no longer discloses console sale numbers in its financial reports, but industry insiders have reported that the Xbox One sold 41 million units globally as of January 2019. Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad was the one who revealed this information (as reported on Tweak Town) earlier this year.
The lack of any tangible sales figures on Microsoft's part means that it's impossible to say how well the Xbox One has done this generation. The Nintendo Switch's recent numbers are very impressive for the short span of time that the system has been released and the impending release of Pokémon Sword & Shield will likely push it even further. The eventual release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Metroid Prime 4 could also have a huge impact on the Nintendo Switch's future sales.
The Xbox One had a rough launch, due to being more expensive than the PlayStation 4 and a vocal backlash from the fans regarding several restrictive policies with the system, such as always needing to be online. Microsoft is upping its game for the next generation of systems and its new streaming & subscription strategy might help push it ahead when the Xbox Scarlett is finally released.
Source: Nintendo, Tweak Town