Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Dominates Japanese Sales Charts with Mario Kart World

Nintendo has once again proven its dominance in the Japanese gaming industry with the highly anticipated launch of the Nintendo Switch 2.

According to the latest software and hardware sales data from Famitsu, the Nintendo Switch 2 made a monumental debut, taking the top spot in the hardware charts and marking a significant new era for the platform.

Tied to this hardware success is the stellar performance of Mario Kart World, one of the Switch 2's flagship launch titles. Famitsu's weekly sales numbers reveal that Mario Kart World immediately shot to the number one position in Japan’s software charts, selling an impressive 782,566 physical copies in its debut week.

This powerful opening cements Mario Kart World as a major success for Nintendo and reinforces the enduring popularity of the Mario Kart franchise. The Nintendo Switch 2 itself was the unsurprising leader in the hardware charts this week, moving 947,931 units since its release.

Notably, this figure does not account for sales through the My Nintendo Store, suggesting actual sales likely surpass the one-million-unit milestone within Japan alone.

This launch performance mirrors previous successes Nintendo has seen in Japanese hardware launches and demonstrates the continued strong demand for the company's innovative gaming platforms. Other notable new releases include Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma from Marvelous, which sold 45,703 units on the original Switch and an additional 10,877 units on Switch 2.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time from LEVEL-5 continued its solid performance, reaching a cumulative 111,904 units in lifetime sales.

Bushiroad Games’ Natsume’s Book of Friends: Hazuki no Shirushi also made a notable entrance with 16,865 units sold. Regarding software from other developers, Bandai Namco's Elden Ring Nightreign (for PlayStation 5) shifted 12,064 copies this week, bringing its cumulative sales to 54,822 in Japan.

SEGA’s Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut also debuted for Switch 2, adding 7,486 units to the charts.

Furthermore, Nintendo launched special Switch 2 Editions for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild, selling 7,992 and 7,529 units respectively. On the hardware front, the PlayStation 5 ranked second with 14,535 units sold (totaling 5,690,661 in lifetime sales).

The Switch OLED Model followed with 8,040 units, while the Switch Lite reached 6,089 units.

Other platforms such as the PlayStation 5 Pro, Xbox Series S and X, and PlayStation 4 contributed smaller sales numbers but remain part of an increasingly competitive hardware landscape. The robust performance of both the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware and its flagship software underscores Nintendo’s continued influence in the Japanese market.

With a lineup that includes hit franchises and new entries, Nintendo has set a strong precedent for the next generation of its iconic console ambitions.

As the Switch 2 continues to roll out, industry eyes will remain focused on Nintendo’s sales milestones and the evolving landscape of the home console market.

Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart Nintendo Switch Mario Kart World Nintendo Mario Switch 2 Famitsu Switch Kart Marvelous LEVEL-5 Bushiroad Games Bandai Namco SEGA Yakuza 0 Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Super Mario Party Jamboree PlayStation 5 Switch OLED Switch Lite PlayStation 5 Pro Xbox Series S Xbox Series X PlayStation 4