Nintendo's Switch 2 console experienced a notable slowdown in holiday sales across several major markets, despite its record-breaking launch earlier in the year. Reports indicate declines of up to 35 percent compared to the original Switch's performance in 2017. While Japan showed a milder drop, the overall trend raises concerns about sustaining momentum without strong exclusive games.
Nintendo’s Switch 2 launched last June and quickly became a market success, selling 3.5 million units worldwide in its first four days and surpassing 10 million shipments in under four months. However, a report from The Game Business highlights a significant slowdown during the crucial first holiday season.
In the US, Switch 2 sales fell about 35 percent in November and December compared to the original Switch in the same period of 2017. The UK saw a 16 percent decline over the last eight weeks of the year, while France reported a 30 percent drop. This reflects “a slowdown in Switch 2 sales momentum over the Christmas sales window” across all major European markets, according to the report.
Japan performed better, with holiday sales down just 5.5 percent relative to the original Switch, and full-year launch sales up 11 percent. This improvement may stem from a cheaper Japan-only version unaffected by international currency fluctuations.
The original Switch set a high benchmark, selling 15 million units in its first full year after Nintendo increased production by 4 million units to meet unexpected demand. Lingering sales of the original Switch have helped, boosting overall holiday hardware sales in the UK by 7 percent compared to 2017.
Analysts point to a lack of system-selling exclusive games as a factor. Unlike 2017, when Super Mario Odyssey fueled holiday excitement alongside titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the Switch 2's releases such as Pokémon Legends Z-A and Metroid Prime 4 had less impact than early hits like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza.
Looking ahead, Nintendo's 2026 lineup features sequels for franchises including Yoshi, Mario Tennis, and Fire Emblem, plus “Switch 2 Edition” re-releases of popular Switch games. A potential bright spot is FromSoft’s Bloodborne-esque Duskbloods, planned as a Switch 2 exclusive. More announcements could help revive interest as launch demand wanes.
