This is Why Nintendo Switch 2’s Holiday Sales Were Lower Than Expected
The Nintendo Switch 2 didn’t perform as well as might have been expected over the holiday season of 2025, and now a report is shedding light on why. Though a lot of Switch 2 owners are enjoying their new console, the device wasn’t able to beat the original Nintendo Switch’s sales over the course of the holidays in its own launch year, 2017.
Though the holiday may not have brought the numbers that Nintendo wanted, the Switch 2 has had no shortage of success up to now. The console outperformed the original Switch at launch, and despite a lot of early speculation that the system would struggle to move units, the Switch 2 sold over 1 million units in the US within its very first week on store shelves.
Nintendo is Reportedly Ramping Up Switch 2 Production
Just months after launch, Switch 2 sales are soaring past major milestones, with Nintendo reported to be ramping up console production.
Nintendo Switch 2 Sees Some Sales Struggles During Holiday 2025
Now, a report from The Game Business claims that the Switch 2 didn’t live up to sales expectations over the holiday shopping season of the prior year. According to their unnamed internal Nintendo source, the cause was blamed partially on the economy, as well as a lack of “a major Western game” releasing during the end of 2025. The report compared the sales in the holiday shopping season of the Switch and Switch 2 during their launch years, 2025 and 2017 respectively, and found that the Switch 2 was down 35% in holiday sales compared to its predecessor in the US. Other regions weren’t exempt, with the UK seeing 16% fewer sales, and even in Japan, which notably has access to a cheaper Switch 2 than the rest of the world, where it saw 5.5% fewer sales over the last two months of the year.
While the Switch 2 came out with some strong hits, especially from developers outside of Nintendo, there are some potential weaknesses in its early game line-up and overall sales plan. For example, the original Switch launched with the mega-hit The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and gained numerous Nintendo titles in its first year, including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 2, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, and more. Switch 2, on the other hand, saw Donkey Kong Bananza, Mario Kart World, Pokemon Legends: Z-A, and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Despite the long wait for Metroid and the build-up of excitement, it and the others may not have been enough in the way of original Nintendo games to drive sales during the holiday.
On top of that, the Nintendo Switch 2 is in the unusual position of sharing sales with the original Switch. The OG Switch is still on sale, and games are still being produced for it, including the aforementioned Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Some players who own a Nintendo Switch may not see enough of a reason to upgrade right now, while those without may have opted to purchase an original Switch at a lower price, rather than splurging on the latest console. The Switch 2 also launched at a higher price than its predecessor, with the base console costing $449.99 in the US at launch, while the original Switch was only $299.99.
Nintendo Switch 2 Still Has a Bright Future
Although the holidays may have not been a blowout for Switch 2 sales for Nintendo, the console will likely achieve a lot of future successes. Major entries in hit franchises like Zelda, Mario, and Splatoon will eventually make their way to the Switch 2, and as the years go by, fewer titles will be released across both of the consoles, in favor of the Switch 2’s superior capabilities. Pokemon will also likely help the system in 2026, with Pokemon Pokopia launching this year exclusively for the Switch 2, alongside more games from Nintendo, as well as simultaneous launches of third-party games like Resident Evil Requiem on the way.
- Brand
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Nintendo
- Original Release Date
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June 5, 2025
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$449.99
- Operating System
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Proprietary
- Resolution
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1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)
- HDR Support
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Yes