TheNintendo Switch 2is the fastest-selling home video game console of all time and has nearly eclipsed the Steam Deck in sales despite the latter having been out for over three years at this point. While many predicted that theNintendo Switch 2would be a smashing success, it’s safe to say that the console has still defied expectations. The Nintendo Switch 2 has been a record-breaker, not just for Nintendo, but for the industry at large.
Those skeptical about the Switch 2’s potential to be a sales powerhouse pointed to past Nintendo missteps. The Wii was the best-selling console of its generation, yet the Wii U was a total flop. TheSwitch 1 has the potential to become the best-selling video game console of all time, but that didn’t guarantee the Switch 2 would be as popular. As it stands, the Switch 2 is outpacing the Switch 1’s sales in the same timeframe, and while it remains to be seen how it will be received long-term, it’s safe to say that the Switch 2 is a hit.
In the years since Nintendo released the original Switch, all kinds of hardware manufacturers have come out with their own handhelds. One of the most notable is Valve’s Steam Deck, which even has docks that give it functionality very similar to the Switch. Some opined that the existence of the Steam Deck made the Switch 2 unnecessary, as Valve’s handheld is not only powerful, but gives users access to multiple digital storefronts and emulation. Exact sales figures aren’t available at the time of this writing, but since the Steam Deck launched in 2022,it’s estimated to have sold somewhere in the ballpark of 4-5 million units. TheSwitch 2 sold 3.5 million units in a matter of days, so it is absolutely smoking the Steam Deck in terms of sales, and should eclipse Valve’s handheld in no time.
Switch 2 Sales Will Blow By the Steam Deck, But That’s to Be Expected
Of course, there are a couple of caveats to consider. The Steam Deck is not sold in brick-and-mortar stores, and is instead purchased directly through Steam. The Switch 2, meanwhile, is available online and at physical retailers. The two devices are also targeting different audiences. The Steam Deck is almost exclusively aimed at existing Steam users, the majority of whom are satisfied with their PCs, while the Switch 2 is marketed to basically everyone. It is looking to appeal to hardcore and casual gamers alike, as well as the millions ofSwitch 1 owners that may be wanting an upgrade.
How Much the Switch 2 Costs Compared to the Steam Deck
Switch 2 consoles have been readily available since launch in many stores, while the 512GB and 1TB Steam Deck variants are currently sold out and won’t be available again until later this summer.
The Steam Deck has similar functionality to the Switch 2, but the two devices aren’t really in direct competition with one another. Still, for those wondering if the existence of the Steam Deck and similar gaming PC handheld devices would have any impact on the Switch 2’s sales, the answer is a resounding no. Projects like the rumored new PlayStation handheld and Xbox’s ROG Ally efforts are unlikely to make much of a dent in Nintendo’s near-complete domination of the handheld gaming market either, especially as the Switch 2’s library of exclusives grows. But even though the Switch 2 is almost guaranteed to outsell its competition, that doesn’t mean the other devices are failures. On the contrary, the Steam Deck has been a relative hit, andif the PlayStation Portal is any indication, the new PlayStation handheld, if it ever materializes, will likely be an immediate success as well.
