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Switch marks best quarter, Animal Crossing: New Horizons sells 31 million copies

Nintendo's hybrid console has outsold the 3DS.

Sean Keane Former Senior Writer
Sean knows far too much about Marvel, DC and Star Wars, and poured this knowledge into recaps and explainers on CNET. He also worked on breaking news, with a passion for tech, video game and culture.
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Sean Keane
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Érika García / CNET

The Nintendo Switch overtook the 3DS in lifetime sales in the last quarter of 2020, Nintendo's latest financial earnings report revealed Monday, with the hybrid console hitting 79.87 million units sold since 2017. The 3DS has sold 75.94 million units since 2011.

The Switch still hasn't beaten the Wii's 101.6 million sales, and lags behind several of Nintendo 's handhelds: The Game Boy Advance sold 81.5 million units, the Game Boy 118.7 million and the DS 154 million, as noted by Nintendo Life.

Analyst Daniel Ahmad also contrasted the Switch's success with disappointment in Nintendo's previous console, the Wii U . Tthe portable-only Switch Lite (13.53 million), which came out in September 2019, is coming close to outselling the Wii U (13.56 million).

A whole bunch of those Switch owners apparently needed a relaxing island getaway -- Animal Crossing: New Horizons sold 31 million copies last year.

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