Nintendo Switch 2 Dominates Japanese Hardware Sales, Mario Kart World Leads Software Charts

Nintendo Switch 2 has officially asserted its dominance in Japan, as the latest hardware sales data from Famitsu reveals a spectacular launch week for Nintendo’s next-generation handheld-console hybrid.

The numbers highlight Nintendo’s continued stronghold in the Japanese market, propelled by the highly anticipated release of Mario Kart World, which led the software charts with a record-breaking debut. According to sales figures released by Famitsu, the Nintendo Switch 2 sold 947,931 units in its first reporting period, dwarfing the competition and setting a new benchmark for hardware launches in recent years.

In comparison, the PlayStation 5 sold 14,535 units, with the PlayStation 5 Pro model moving 4,230 units.

Other Nintendo platforms also remained popular: the Nintendo Switch OLED sold 8,040 units, Switch Lite reached 6,089, and the standard Switch added 2,482 more to its impressive lifetime total.

Xbox Series S and X trailed considerably, with 163 and 113 units sold, respectively. For historical context, last week's numbers for the Switch OLED were 11,055 units, while the standard Switch sold 3,042, and Switch Lite reached 5,978.

PlayStation 5 units totaled 10,321, and the PlayStation 5 Pro sold 3,418.

These figures underscore the surge in demand driven by the Nintendo Switch 2 launch and the accompanying software releases. On the software side, Mario Kart World for the Switch 2 debuted at number one with an impressive 782,566 copies sold.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, also making its debut, took the second position across both the original Switch (45,703 units) and its Switch 2 edition (10,877 units).

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time continued its strong performance with 17,180 additional units sold, bringing its total to over 111,900.

Notably, several Nintendo Switch 2 versions of popular titles—such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (7,992 units) and Breath of the Wild (7,529 units)—secured positions in the top ten, demonstrating early demand for enhanced versions on the new hardware platform. In a statement paraphrased by Famitsu’s editorial team, Nintendo executives noted the significance of these milestones, emphasizing the ongoing appeal of Mario Kart and the franchise’s ability to draw in new and returning players with each hardware generation.

Nintendo’s strong software and hardware lineup, coupled with strategic releases on the Nintendo eShop and physical outlets, continues to solidify its leadership in the Japanese gaming market. For further details, past sales data, and in-depth software rankings, Famitsu remains a valuable resource for industry professionals tracking the evolution of Japan’s console landscape.

As the Nintendo Switch 2 cements its position with resounding launch figures, developers and publishers alike will be closely watching how this momentum shapes the competitive landscape in the months ahead.

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