Photo by Guzmán Barquín on Unsplash
9ames.com – A seismic rumor is shaking the foundations of the video game industry. According to the online commentator @NintyPrime, citing multiple sources, Nintendo’s yet-to-be-officially-announced successor to the Switch has achieved a staggering feat: selling over three million units in its first 24 hours.1 While this remains an unconfirmed report, the sheer scale of the figure demands consideration. If true, it doesn’t just break records; it obliterates them and signals a potential market realignment that could leave Sony and Microsoft scrambling to adapt.
To grasp the magnitude of this alleged achievement, perspective is key. The Sony PlayStation 4, a console lauded for its monumental success, held the previous 24-hour sales record with one million units. Looking further, both the PlayStation 4 and its successor, the PlayStation 5, took a full two months to reach the 4.5 million sales mark. The idea that Nintendo could sell two-thirds of that figure in a single day is a paradigm-shifting prospect.
Should this rumor hold water, what does it mean for the big three console makers?
Nintendo: From Market Leader to Market Dominator
For Nintendo, a launch of this magnitude would be nothing short of a coronation. The success of the original Switch already validated their hybrid console strategy, blending home and portable gaming into one irresistible package. Selling three million units at launch would indicate that they haven’t just retained their audience but have expanded it exponentially.
This would create a virtuous cycle: immense hardware sales would attract overwhelming third-party developer support, leading to an even more diverse and robust software library, which in turn would sell more hardware. Nintendo would cement its position not just as a market leader, but as the industry’s center of gravity. The pressure would then shift internally, falling on Nintendo’s legendary development teams to supply a stream of system-selling software to feed a hungry new install base of unprecedented size.
Sony’s PlayStation: A Battle for Mindshare and Money
Sony has enjoyed a comfortable position of strength with the PlayStation 5, building on the PS4’s success by focusing on high-fidelity, blockbuster exclusives. However, a Nintendo console launching with this level of explosive momentum would be a direct threat to Sony’s market share and, more importantly, its mindshare. In the entertainment industry, buzz is a currency of its own.
A dominant Switch 2 could absorb a significant portion of consumer spending and attention. Gamers with finite budgets may opt for the new Nintendo phenomenon over a mid-generation PS5 purchase. Sony might find itself forced into a more defensive posture, potentially accelerating plans for a PS5 Pro, initiating strategic price cuts, or doubling down on acquiring exclusive content to keep players locked into its ecosystem. The era of comfortable market leadership could come to an abrupt end, forcing Sony to fight harder for every player.
Microsoft’s Xbox: A Strategy Put to the Ultimate Test
Microsoft’s strategy with Xbox has pivoted away from a direct head-to-head sales race. Instead, their focus is on the value and ubiquity of the Game Pass subscription service. A super-powered Nintendo launch is a complex variable in this equation. On one hand, it represents a formidable competitor for players’ time and money. On the other, it could inadvertently validate Microsoft’s approach.
If millions of players flock to a primary Nintendo console, Microsoft’s pitch for an affordable Xbox Series S as a secondary “Game Pass machine” becomes even more compelling. Why buy another expensive box when a cheaper alternative gives you access to hundreds of games, including Microsoft’s first-party exclusives on day one? The challenge for Microsoft would be to ensure its service remains a can’t-miss proposition. The rise of a dominant Switch 2 would put immense pressure on Microsoft to continue delivering high-quality, exclusive content to Game Pass and to explore every avenue, including cloud gaming, to get its service in front of players, wherever they choose to play.
While we must wait for official confirmation, the mere whisper of these numbers from @NintyPrime has painted a vivid picture of a potential future. If Nintendo has truly sold three million units of its new console in 24 hours, it’s not just a product launch—it’s a statement of dominance that will redefine the strategies and fortunes of the entire gaming industry for years to come.