Nintendo will take number one spot from Sony in game console market next year, according to analysts

Nintendo is set to take back the number one spot in video game consoles for the first time since 2009, according to the latest projections from Strategy Analytics.

The report, Global Game Console Market Forecast, predicts that Nintendo will sell 17.3 million Switch consoles worldwide in 2019, while Sony will sell 17.1 million PS4 and PS4 Pro consoles.

Microsoft will remain in third place, selling 10.0 million Xbox One and Xbox One X devices.

The overall game console market has performed well in 2018, with total global sales reaching 46.1 million devices, the highest since 2010.

Video game consoles has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years despite developers and device manufacturers creating mobile specific games and phones. It is estimated 45% of North American homes and 20% of Western European homes now having at least one console.

David Watkins , Director at Strategy Analytics, commented, “Contrary to some expectations, the global TV games console market remains healthy. Many pundits have written it off over the years, for reasons ranging from the emergence of cloud gaming to the dominance of mobile devices and the arrival of VR, but it refuses to die. In fact, there is an argument that the enduring appeal of the TV games console, now in its sixth decade, continues to demonstrate the weaknesses and limitations of alternative games platforms.”

While Nintendo is set to overtake Sony in terms of sales, the latter remains the market leader in terms of video game consoles in use. Sony consoles accounts for nearly half of all video games consoles in use, 84% of which are PS4 or PS4 Pro devices.

[via]