The Nintendo Switch has been the best-selling piece of video game hardware for the past 33 months, but the home console/handheld hybrid was finally dethroned in September by the PlayStation 5. Demand has been high for Sony's latest console and the sales numbers are able to back that up as the Switch's popularity has been unrelenting ever since its release in 2017.
According to new data from the NPD Group, an organization dedicated to analyzing the retail landscape, the PlayStation 5 outdid the Switch in terms of both units sold and money made for September 2021. This ended Nintendo's hot streak as the Switch has been the highest-performing console since August 2018.
While it's potentially shocking that a console that can't seem to stay in stock was able to outsell the Switch, it makes sense that Switch sales might have dipped in September due to the release of the Nintendo Switch OLED Model. Because Nintendo was gearing up to release an updated version of the system, many fans looking to invest in a Switch were likely waiting until the latest model was released to make a purchase. It's still to be seen if October puts the Switch back on top, but even if it doesn't, being a best-seller for 33 months is quite the accomplishment, especially when considering that the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S were all released within that timeframe.
The PlayStation 5's stock issues do stand as a testament to just how much demand there is for the new console. Retailers literally can't keep them on the shelves and Sony has resorted to making fans register to be able to buy one in an attempt to combat console scalping.
Unfortunately, the console shortage looks like it's going to continue into 2022 and potentially through to the end of next year according to experts. The shortage is influencing the sales of gaming hardware across the industry, so the numbers for PS5 sales likely aren't what they were projected to be before the ongoing pandemic started.
Although it might not be the best thing for Nintendo, the news that a new console is outselling the Switch does give some hope for PlayStation fans who are still trying to get their hands on the PS5. Stock might not be as stable as Sony wants, but knowing that fans are able to actually purchase the console certainly makes it feel like the systems are almost within reach.