Nintendo is navigating a somewhat mixed reception to the Switch 2, acknowledging that hardware sales have been “slightly weaker than expected” outside of Japan towards the end of 2025. The news, revealed during a shareholder meeting this week, comes despite the console achieving the title of the world’s fastest-selling gaming console after its launch last summer.
While Nintendo maintains its overall global sales forecasts for both hardware and software, the regional breakdown is proving to be different than initially anticipated. According to Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa, domestic sales in Japan have exceeded expectations, offsetting the slower performance in overseas markets.
The data paints a clearer picture of this divergence. Sales figures compiled by The Game Business show a significant drop in U.S. Switch 2 sales over the holiday period – down around 35% compared to the original Switch’s debut in 2017. Similar trends were observed in the UK, where Switch 2 sales lagged behind its predecessor by 16%. Even within Japan, Switch 2 holiday sales were down 5.5% compared to the same period for the original Switch. France saw a decline of “over 30%” in Switch 2 sales compared to the original model’s 2017 performance.
Despite these regional challenges, the Switch 2 is still performing strongly overall. Nintendo reports that the console remains its fastest-selling to date, building on the success of the original Switch. The company has already sold nearly 17.4 million Switch 2 machines as of the end of December, marking the briskest launch rollout in Nintendo’s history. The company is projecting to sell 19 million Switch 2 machines during the current fiscal year.
Furukawa attributes the stronger performance in Japan to the release of two key titles: Pokémon Legends: Z-A Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and Kirby Air Riders. He suggests that a higher proportion of existing Switch owners in Japan upgraded to the Switch 2, driven by these releases. This observation aligns with reports from unnamed sources within Nintendo, who previously indicated that the lack of a major Western-focused title may have contributed to slower sales in other regions.
The success of Pokémon and Kirby in Japan isn’t entirely surprising. The Pokémon franchise enjoys a particularly devoted fanbase in the country, while Kirby games consistently perform well there, though with more variable results internationally. This suggests that Nintendo’s current Switch 2 momentum in Japan is being fueled by titles that resonate strongly with the local audience.
The performance of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, released in December, appears to be a contributing factor to the overseas sales picture. While the game was anticipated, it hasn’t achieved the sales numbers Nintendo likely hoped for. There was no mention of Metroid Prime 4 in Nintendo’s recent financial results and it wasn’t included on the list of games that have sold over a million units. Kirby Air Riders, released on November 20, has sold 1.76 million units to date.
Nintendo acknowledged before the game’s release that the open-world concept of Metroid Prime 4 risked feeling outdated. Adding to the situation, Kensuke Tanabe, a veteran producer on the Metroid Prime series, announced his departure from Nintendo last month after 40 years with the company, following the game’s launch. Nintendo declined to comment further on Tanabe’s departure.
Looking ahead, Nintendo’s net profit has already seen a boost of over 50% in the nine months leading up to December, driven by the Switch 2’s success. However, a potential global memory chip shortage, fueled by demand from the artificial intelligence industry, could impact manufacturing costs. Nintendo is also preparing a lineup of new Switch 2 titles for the remainder of 2026, including Mario Tennis Fever (February 12), Pokémon Pokopia (March 5), Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park (March 26), Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream (April 16), and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book (spring 2026). Other titles slated for release in 2026 include Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, Rhythm Heaven Groove, and Pokémon Champions, with Splatoon Raiders currently listed as “TBA.”
The company will be hoping that a strong software lineup, particularly a potential new 3D Mario platformer expected around the holiday season, will help to bolster Switch 2 sales and maintain momentum throughout the year.
