The Nintendo Switch 2 launched last year to great success, with an incredible 3.5 million units sold within just four days. By August 2025, this number rose to over 6 million, and by November, it had surpassed 10 million units sold. Such performance outpaced the original Nintendo Switch, setting the stage for what appeared to be an historic holiday season.
Unexpected Holiday Sales Performance
However, reports suggest that the initial holiday season for the Nintendo Switch 2 did not meet expectations. In the United States, sales during November and December were 35% lower than the original Switch’s first holiday season in 2017. Similarly, the UK saw a 16% reduction in sales for the Switch 2 compared to its predecessor. Yet, when combining UK sales with the rest of Europe, the Switch 2 managed to exceed the Switch 1’s holiday debut by 7%. In the UK throughout 2025, the Switch 2 outperformed 2017’s Switch sales by 6%.
France witnessed a notable shortfall, with Switch 2 holiday sales being 30% lower than those of the Switch 1. Despite these regional challenges, the console’s year-long performance showed a positive trend.
Factors Influencing Sales
A mix of factors contributed to the slowdown in holiday sales. Although the Switch 2 featured significant first-party releases like Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Kirby Air Riders, and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, the absence of a new 3D Mario platformer was felt. The original Switch benefited from Super Mario Odyssey by Christmas 2017.
Moreover, new tariffs and rising living costs in the US affected consumer spending on non-essential items, including video games. Analysts have noted this economic pressure contributed to the lowest November hardware and physical game sales since 1995. A senior Nintendo employee described the situation as a result of a “complicated economic landscape” and “the absence of a major Western game.” Even Japan, despite an 11% increase in year-to-year sales, saw a slight dip beneath the 2017 holiday period.
Looking ahead, the introduction of more exclusive titles could see the Switch 2 reclaim its momentum. With prospects of a new Mario 3D platformer, 2026’s holiday season could mark significant improvements, and end-of-year results may reveal the Switch 2’s debut year as a strong competitor against its predecessor.