Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Best gaming gadgets
  • New Games 2026
  • Arc Raiders
  • Summer Game Fest 2026 schedule
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Platforms
  2. PlayStation
  3. PS5

PS5 ends Nintendo Switch best-selling streak after almost three years

News
By Ali Jones published 18 October 2021

Sony has finally ended Nintendo's run in the US

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

God of War
(Image credit: Sony Santa Monica)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

The PS5 has ended the Nintendo Switch's nearly three-year bestselling streak in the US.

According to NPD analyst Mat Piscatella, the PS5 was the best-selling hardware platform in September 2021 (in both unit and dollar sales). That means that last month saw the PS5 "snap the remarkable 33 consecutive month streak that the Nintendo Switch was the market's leading platform in hardware unit sales."

US NPD HW - September 2021 snaps the remarkable 33 consecutive month streak that Nintendo Switch was the market's leading platform in hardware unit sales. November 2018 was the last month a platform other than Nintendo Switch led the market in unit sales (PlayStation 4).October 18, 2021

The last time a console that wasn't the Nintendo Switch topped the charts was November 2018, when the PS4 was still on top. A combination of factors is likely to have led to the Switch's impressive run - the arrival of new-gen consoles may have dissuaded customers from buying last-gen alternatives, while ongoing supply issues will have made it difficult for the PS5 and Xbox Series X to top the list.

Latest Videos From
You may like
  • Hand holding Nintendo Switch 2 console with red backdrop. Nintendo reportedly cutting Switch 2 console production by a third after not hitting expected sales over the holidays
  • Photo by Rosalie Newcombe of the Nintendo Switch 2 sitting on a coffee table surrounded by accessories. Nintendo reportedly pressured to raise Switch 2 price as $450 console is sold at a loss
  • Sony PS5 unboxing PS5 sales are 42% behind PS4 at this point in the generation, and it's got nothing to do with the price increase

Interestingly, Piscatella states that while the PS5 is the best-selling console in terms of dollars through 2021 as a whole, the Switch has still sold more units. Back in April, the NPD Group confirmed that the PS5 was the fastest-selling console ever in the US, a feat that it repeated in Japan last month. That should come as no surprise, however, as the PS5 is also the fastest-selling Sony console ever - it took just 248 days to top the ten million sales mark, in spite of continued shortages in supply.

Whether the Switch manages to reclaim the throne remains to be seen, especially with Metroid Dread out now, two Pokemon games on the horizon, and new Animal Crossing: New Horizons content arriving next month.

Still need a new console? Here's our guide to how to buy PS5 stock. 

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
Ali Jones
Ali Jones
Social Links Navigation
Managing Editor, News

I'm GamesRadar's Managing Editor for news, shaping the news strategy across the team. I started my journalistic career while getting my degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick, where I also worked as Games Editor on the student newspaper, The Boar. Since then, I've run the news sections at PCGamesN and Kotaku UK, and also regularly contributed to PC Gamer. As you might be able to tell, PC is my platform of choice, so you can regularly find me playing League of Legends or Steam's latest indie hit.

Read more
Hand holding Nintendo Switch 2 console with red backdrop.
Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo reportedly cutting Switch 2 console production by a third after not hitting expected sales over the holidays
 
 
Photo by Rosalie Newcombe of the Nintendo Switch 2 sitting on a coffee table surrounded by accessories.
Hardware Nintendo reportedly pressured to raise Switch 2 price as $450 console is sold at a loss
 
 
Sony PS5 unboxing
Hardware PS5 sales are 42% behind PS4 at this point in the generation, and it's got nothing to do with the price increase
 
 
Photo by Rosalie Newcombe of a Kirby toy sitting in-front of a Switch 2 that's running Kirby and the Forgotten Land.
Hardware A Nintendo Switch 2 price hike "could be likely" after PS5 increases, game analysts suggest
 
 
Pokopia screenshots on Switch 2
Pokemon Pokemon Pokopia sends monthly Switch 2 sales flying by 154% in the UK
 
 
Starfield Shattered Space trailer screenshot showing an alien planet with deep red skies and blue crystal-like rocky formations surrounding a glowing man
RPGs Starfield "was the best-selling video game of the week" in US for first time in nearly 3 years, reports analyst
 
 
Latest in PlayStation
Crimson Desert
Open World Games Crimson Desert patch tackles endgame emptiness further with 5 more boss rematches, extra mounts, and new skills
 
 
Pirkštejn Castle in Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Action RPGs Kingdom Come: Deliverance dev raises $65,000 to help preserve the real-life castle that's Henry's homebase in the RPG
 
 
Kliff in a sword fight with masked warrior Reed Devil in a golden field
Open World Games Crimson Desert star was in Elden Ring but says Pearl Abyss' open-world game is "unlike anything"
 
 
Marathon runners
FPS Games Marathon is getting a "PVE-only mode" as Bungie responds to the state of the game
 
 
GTA 6
Grand Theft Auto Rockstar's supposed GTA 6 pre-order evidence is actually years old
 
 
Persona 5 Royal screenshot
JRPGs Persona 5 Royal lead says the JRPG series' growth might have "contributed to the recent spread of turn-based combat"
 
 
Latest in News
Crimson Desert
Open World Games Crimson Desert patch tackles endgame emptiness further with 5 more boss rematches, extra mounts, and new skills
 
 
Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin and Baby Yoda in the snow in The Mandalorian and Grogu
Star Wars Movies The Mandalorian and Grogu gets divisive first reactions as it's called both a "ton of fun" and "totally inessential"
 
 
Pirkštejn Castle in Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Action RPGs Kingdom Come: Deliverance dev raises $65,000 to help preserve the real-life castle that's Henry's homebase in the RPG
 
 
Kliff in a sword fight with masked warrior Reed Devil in a golden field
Open World Games Crimson Desert star was in Elden Ring but says Pearl Abyss' open-world game is "unlike anything"
 
 
Marathon runners
FPS Games Marathon is getting a "PVE-only mode" as Bungie responds to the state of the game
 
 
GTA 6
Grand Theft Auto Rockstar's supposed GTA 6 pre-order evidence is actually years old
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. A chunk of Lead in Subnautica 2
    1
    Where to find Lead in Subnautica 2
  2. 2
    Where to find Necrolei Cysts in Subnautica 2
  3. 3
    Rebreather location in Subnautica 2
  4. 4
    The Mandalorian and Grogu gets divisive first reactions as it's called both a "ton of fun" and "totally inessential"
  5. 5
    Diablo 4 Lord of Hatred was in the works before the base RPG launched, and that's why some features "deployed early"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...