Nintendo Admits Switch 2 Sales Outside Japan Fell Short of Expectations
Nintendo has officially acknowledged that sales of the Switch 2 outside Japan did not meet internal expectations, despite the console achieving record-breaking launch performance overall.
During the company’s latest shareholder meeting, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa confirmed that international hardware sales in late 2025 were slightly below projections. This contrast is particularly noticeable when compared to the strong domestic performance in Japan. Sales data indicates that Switch 2 hardware sales in the United States dropped by approximately 35 percent compared to the first holiday season of the original Switch in 2017, while the United Kingdom recorded a decline of around 16 percent.
One of the main reasons behind the strong performance in Japan was the release of high-profile exclusive titles during the holiday period. Pokémon Legends: Z-A Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and Kirby Air Riders launched exclusively on the new system and benefited from extremely loyal fan bases in Japan. This led to a higher upgrade rate among existing Switch owners compared to players in Western markets.
In contrast, the global market faced a shortage of major system-selling titles during the same period. Although Metroid Prime 4: Beyond launched in early December, its initial momentum was relatively modest. Combined sales across both Switch and Switch 2 versions reached around one million units. Nintendo had anticipated some risk here, as the game’s open-world design faced stiff competition from more modern titles in the current market landscape.
Despite these challenges, the overall outlook for Switch 2 remains positive. As of December 31, 2025, global hardware sales surpassed 17.37 million units, making it the fastest-selling console launch in Nintendo’s history. Mario Kart World emerged as the system’s biggest success, selling 14.03 million copies, driven largely by highly popular hardware bundle packages.
Looking ahead to 2026, Nintendo plans to strengthen its first-party lineup to regain momentum across global markets. Upcoming releases include Mario Tennis Fever in February, Pokémon Pokopia in March, and a highly anticipated new 3D Super Mario title expected to launch during the holiday season. These releases are seen as critical to boosting adoption rates worldwide.
Nintendo is also closely monitoring rising memory component costs, as fluctuations in RAM pricing could impact long-term profitability. For now, the company has stated that there are no plans to adjust the console’s retail price, making 2026 a pivotal year for maintaining Switch 2’s global momentum.
 Origin: IGN
