Switch 2 Sales Drop at Year-End, Outpaced by Original Switch

Key Takeaways

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The Nintendo Switch 2 experienced a significant decline in sales during the year-end period compared to the original Nintendo Switch, with U.S. sales dropping approximately 35% and UK sales falling by 16%.
The lack of exclusive titles, higher system price ($449.99), and potentially less interest from Gen Alpha consumers might be contributing factors to this decline.
Despite a dip in Switch 2 sales, overall Nintendo device sales in the UK increased by 7% between November and December compared to the same period in 2017. However, Japan saw a slight dip of around 5.5%.
Analysts suggest that the slowdown in sales is due to a challenging economic environment, higher hardware prices, and the absence of a heavy-hitting game during the holiday season. The upcoming release calendar for 2026, which includes new titles like Pokemon Pokopia and expansions for popular franchises, is expected to drive sales throughout the year.

Decline in Nintendo Switch 2 Sales vs Original During Year-End, Potential Causes and Price Factors

Despite a record-breaking launch in June 2025, Nintendo Switch 2 sales slowed significantly in the U.S. and UK during the end-of-year period, falling below the original Nintendo Switch’s sales figures for the same stage of its launch year. According to The Game Business and analysis firm Circana, U.S. sales of the Switch 2 in November and December were approximately 35% lower than the original Switch’s sales during the equivalent timeframe of 2017. A lack of exclusive titles may be a potential cause of this decline, while another may be the system’s $449.99 price tag. Additionally, there are indications that Gen Alpha consumers (those aged seven or younger) may be less interested in the console than Gen Z was. Nintendo has not yet lowered the price of the Switch 2, and reports indicate that the cost of its RAM has increased by 41%, potentially hindering the company’s ability to lower the MSRP.

Decline in Switch 2 UK Sales vs Original During End-Year, Europe Struggles, Japan Dips, Yet Nintendo Devices Up overall

In the UK, Switch 2 sales during the last eight weeks of 2025 were 16% lower than the original Switch’s sales during the same timeframe in 2017, according to NielsenIQ data cited by The Game Business. Across key European markets, France showed particularly weak performance, with Switch 2 sales for the year around 30% below those of the original Switch’s first year. In Japan, sales dipped by roughly 5.5% for the same period, with approximately 1.32 million units of the Switch 2 sold in the last nine weeks of 2025, compared to the original Switch’s 1.39 million during the same period. However, when combined with sales of the previous model, total Nintendo device sales in the UK between November and December indicate a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2017. Switch 2 sales in the UK for the year were also 6% above what the original Switch achieved in its first year, despite the latter having 14 additional weeks on the market. The UK also outsold France in terms of units sold in 2025, reversing Nintendo’s recent market history in that country.

Year-End Slump in Switch 2 Sales Amid Economic Challenges and Absence of Heavy-Hitting Titles

Analysts at The Game Business attribute the overall slowdown to a challenging economic environment, higher hardware prices, and the absence of a heavy-hitting game during the holiday season—a factor that has historically driven console sales. By comparison, the original Switch benefited from titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey. Nintendo and industry analysts are now looking to the 2026 release calendar, which includes titles like Pokemon Pokopia, Mario Tennis Fever, and expansions for popular franchises, as potential sales drivers throughout the year.

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