The Nintendo Switch is eight years old today

3 March, 2025

a nintendo switch is docked in the background while a joycon controller sits in the foreground - its handles are red and blue

The Nintendo Switch was released eight years ago today and fans are celebrating the console’s anniversary across social media.

The handheld console was released March 3, 2017 and featured a launch lineup of games that included The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild. Other blockbuster titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Super Mario Odyssey helped the console shift more than 150million units.

And while plenty of fans are looking forward to the Switch 2, which was confirmed earlier this year ahead of a 2025 release, a number have taken to social media to pay tribute to the original Switch.

“Over 8 years, Switch has amassed the greatest game library of any Nintendo system ever (in my opinion). Switch’s time as Nintendo’s primary system is coming to an end but backwards compatibility means the games will continue to be enjoyed,” wrote one fan on X. “Happy Birthday. Got my launch day Nintendo Switch 8 years ago today. I’m still using it and it’s working great,” said another. “Unmatched longevity for a console,” added a third. 

However the anniversary also has some gamers feeling their age.

“The Switch is 8 years old now.. The Switch… is 8… years old…. Wow im old,” wrote one fan. “Can’t believe that it has been 8 years already. I still remember how I first got the console, waiting in a GameStop line at midnight launch. Happy 8 years for the Switch,” said another.

A Switch-inspired anniversary Tumblr cartoon has also caused a crisis on Reddit. “Stop! My brain is still stuck in 2012,” said one fan. “What Nintendo console came out eight years ago? uhhh… Gamecube?,” wrote another. 

Last year, Nintendo confirmed the Switch 2 would be backwards compatible, meaning players will still be able to play their original Switch games on the new console. Not much else is known about the Switch’s successor but a dedicated Direct is planned for next month ahead of a global series of hands-on preview events.

In other news, Paleontologist Dr. Darren Naish has given his verdict on how realistic the Monster Hunter games are – and he’s “super impressed”.

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