Nintendo Switch 2 Sales Lag 35% Behind First-Gen Switch’s 2017 Holiday Debut in the US

The Nintendo Switch 2 took the gaming world by storm with an impressive launch, selling 3.5 million units within its first four days in June of last year. By August 2025, sales surpassed 6 million units, and by November 2025, it had reached over 10 million units, outpacing its predecessor, the Nintendo Switch. Many anticipated it would dominate the holiday season, setting records for a new console.

Holiday Sales Performance of Nintendo Switch 2

Reports suggest that the Nintendo Switch 2 faced unexpected challenges during its first holiday season. In the United States, from November to December, sales lagged 35% behind what the original Nintendo Switch achieved in its 2017 holiday debut. Meanwhile, in the UK, the new console’s sales were 16% lower compared to its predecessor. However, when accounting for the entire European market, the Switch 2 managed to exceed the Switch 1’s debut holiday sales by 7%, and in the UK, its 2025 sales surpassed those of the Switch 1 in 2017 by 6%.

Beyond the US and UK, France marked the sharpest decline, with Switch 2’s holiday sales falling 30% short of the Switch 1’s 2017 performance. Across Europe, the console struggled to match its predecessor’s achievements during the same period.

Factors Behind the Sales Slump

The factors contributing to the Nintendo Switch 2’s holiday sales slowdown are multifaceted. Although it saw major first-party releases in 2025, such as “Mario Kart World,” “Donkey Kong Bananza,” “Pokémon Legends: Z-A,” “Kirby Air Riders,” and “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond,” it lacked a new 3D Mario platformer, a crucial title that propelled the original Switch’s success with “Super Mario Odyssey” in 2017.

Economic elements also played a role. While tariffs introduced last year did not directly affect the Switch 2’s price, they increased costs for essential goods, causing US consumers to cut spending on non-essentials, including video games. This environment led to the worst November in hardware and physical game sales in the US since 1995.

A senior Nintendo employee attributed the lackluster performance to a “complicated economic landscape” and the “absence of a major Western game.” In Japan, the Switch 2 performed positively overall in 2025, ending the year 11% ahead of the Switch 1’s launch year sales, although it fell slightly behind during the holiday period.

Looking ahead, the arrival of more exclusive titles could revitalize the Switch 2, potentially leading to a stronger holiday season in 2026, especially if a new Mario 3D platformer emerges. **It remains to be seen whether the Nintendo Switch 2 will outpace its predecessor in debut year sales once all end-of-year results are in for the UK, US, and EU.**