Nintendo Switch 2's Holiday Sales Fall Short of Predecessor in US, UK, and France
Nintendo’s latest console, the Nintendo Switch 2, has experienced a notable slump in holiday sales compared to its groundbreaking predecessor, according to new data shared by The Game Business.
This news comes as an unexpected development for the Japanese gaming giant, which had hoped to build upon the remarkable momentum of the original Nintendo Switch platform.
The Switch 2, following in the footsteps of a system that recently surpassed 125 million units in lifetime sales, faced high expectations from both industry analysts and the gaming community. Holiday Sales Downturn in Major Western Markets The analysis reveals that Switch 2’s US Christmas sales were down 35% compared to the original Nintendo Switch’s launch period.
This drop, as reported by The Game Business and corroborated by recent Circana data, coincided with November’s record-low console market performance in the United States—one of the weakest in three decades.
Despite the uplift typically associated with the holiday season and new hardware launches, the Switch 2 failed to match previous sales milestones, suggesting that price sensitivity or a comparatively thin launch lineup may have deterred some buyers. Similar patterns were observed in the United Kingdom, where Switch 2’s sales during the final eight weeks of 2025 trailed the original Switch by 16%.
While combining ongoing sales of both the Switch and Switch 2 yielded an overall 7% increase in Nintendo hardware sales, the data indicates that consumers may be holding onto their first-generation systems longer or delaying upgrades in the absence of compelling new releases. French Market Shows Unexpected Weakness France, historically a stronghold for Nintendo in Europe, also saw a sharper-than-expected decline.
The Game Business noted that 2025 Switch 2 sales in France were over 30% lower than those achieved by the Switch during its first year.
Contextually, while the Switch benefited from a longer initial release window, the Switch 2’s robust first month did not generate sustained momentum through year-end. Commenting on these trends, a senior Nintendo official told The Game Business that a “complex economic environment,” higher pricing tiers, and “the lack of a landmark Western release” contributed to underperformance in Western markets.
For perspective, the original Switch arrived alongside The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and was soon bolstered by Super Mario Odyssey, bringing immediate attention and widespread adoption. Strong Japanese Sales Offset Western Struggles Not all regions mirrored this slowdown.
In Japan, Switch 2 outperformed expectations, posting sales of 1.4 million units between November 1 and December 21, 2025.
This figure surpassed the original Switch’s performance over a comparable period, which moved under one million units.
Analysts point to the availability of a more affordable, Japan-exclusive Switch 2 model and the launch of Kirby Air Riders—a franchise with a particularly strong following in Japan—as possible explanations for this success. Looking Ahead for Nintendo Switch 2 Despite regional differences, Nintendo continues to support the Switch 2 with new features and content.
Recent announcements include Hitachi’s voice recognition software for Switch 2 game developers, the phasing out of Hulu on the platform, and introductions of new Game & Watch and Fire Emblem icons for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers.
As 2026 approaches, the company will undoubtedly review its pricing, game release strategies, and market focus to drive future growth for its flagship hardware. The Nintendo Switch 2’s launch has faced early setbacks in key territories, but ongoing support, software updates, and strong performance in Japan provide a solid foundation as Nintendo plans its next steps in the evolving console landscape.
This news comes as an unexpected development for the Japanese gaming giant, which had hoped to build upon the remarkable momentum of the original Nintendo Switch platform.
The Switch 2, following in the footsteps of a system that recently surpassed 125 million units in lifetime sales, faced high expectations from both industry analysts and the gaming community. Holiday Sales Downturn in Major Western Markets The analysis reveals that Switch 2’s US Christmas sales were down 35% compared to the original Nintendo Switch’s launch period.
This drop, as reported by The Game Business and corroborated by recent Circana data, coincided with November’s record-low console market performance in the United States—one of the weakest in three decades.
Despite the uplift typically associated with the holiday season and new hardware launches, the Switch 2 failed to match previous sales milestones, suggesting that price sensitivity or a comparatively thin launch lineup may have deterred some buyers. Similar patterns were observed in the United Kingdom, where Switch 2’s sales during the final eight weeks of 2025 trailed the original Switch by 16%.
While combining ongoing sales of both the Switch and Switch 2 yielded an overall 7% increase in Nintendo hardware sales, the data indicates that consumers may be holding onto their first-generation systems longer or delaying upgrades in the absence of compelling new releases. French Market Shows Unexpected Weakness France, historically a stronghold for Nintendo in Europe, also saw a sharper-than-expected decline.
The Game Business noted that 2025 Switch 2 sales in France were over 30% lower than those achieved by the Switch during its first year.
Contextually, while the Switch benefited from a longer initial release window, the Switch 2’s robust first month did not generate sustained momentum through year-end. Commenting on these trends, a senior Nintendo official told The Game Business that a “complex economic environment,” higher pricing tiers, and “the lack of a landmark Western release” contributed to underperformance in Western markets.
For perspective, the original Switch arrived alongside The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and was soon bolstered by Super Mario Odyssey, bringing immediate attention and widespread adoption. Strong Japanese Sales Offset Western Struggles Not all regions mirrored this slowdown.
In Japan, Switch 2 outperformed expectations, posting sales of 1.4 million units between November 1 and December 21, 2025.
This figure surpassed the original Switch’s performance over a comparable period, which moved under one million units.
Analysts point to the availability of a more affordable, Japan-exclusive Switch 2 model and the launch of Kirby Air Riders—a franchise with a particularly strong following in Japan—as possible explanations for this success. Looking Ahead for Nintendo Switch 2 Despite regional differences, Nintendo continues to support the Switch 2 with new features and content.
Recent announcements include Hitachi’s voice recognition software for Switch 2 game developers, the phasing out of Hulu on the platform, and introductions of new Game & Watch and Fire Emblem icons for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers.
As 2026 approaches, the company will undoubtedly review its pricing, game release strategies, and market focus to drive future growth for its flagship hardware. The Nintendo Switch 2’s launch has faced early setbacks in key territories, but ongoing support, software updates, and strong performance in Japan provide a solid foundation as Nintendo plans its next steps in the evolving console landscape.
