Nintendo’s decision to create the Switch as a hybrid console, building on the failed concept of the Wii U, stands out as one of their best moves. Unlike PlayStation and Xbox, which focus on raw performance battles, the Switch has been consistently supported by high-quality first-party games that easily sell millions of copies quickly.
Interestingly, despite releasing a Lite version, Nintendo has shown little interest in launching a more powerful iteration, like a Pro version. Consequently, the Switch has become the longest-lasting console generation.
First released on March 3, 2017, the Nintendo Switch now holds the record for the longest-lasting Nintendo console generation, surpassing the previous record-holder, the Famicom, which lasted 2,686 days. As of now, the Switch has reached 2,687 days and counting, with no clear release window for the next generation, potentially extending this record even further.
In stark contrast, the failed Wii U holds the record for the shortest lifespan, lasting only about 1,566 days before Nintendo transitioned to the next generation.
Despite this achievement, the Switch’s lifespan still falls short of Nintendo’s longest-lasting handheld generation, the Game Boy, which existed for approximately 4,325 days before the Game Boy Advance was introduced. Have you joined the Switch ecosystem yet?
