In November 2025, the United Kingdom, recognized as Europe's largest gaming market, reported a notable decline in console hardware sales across all major platforms.
Newly released market figures reveal that sales for both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 consoles fell by 19% compared to the same period last year.
These numbers arrive amidst ongoing shifts within the gaming industry and follow the launch of the anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 earlier in the year. While Nintendo managed to outperform its rivals regarding the scale of decline, the broader console market recorded even sharper drops.
According to verified UK sales data, Sony's PlayStation 5 experienced a steep 57% year-on-year decrease, despite aggressive Black Friday promotions, including digital edition discounts as low as £349.
Meanwhile, Microsoft's Xbox Series X|S registered the most significant contraction, with sales plummeting 78% compared to November 2024. The Nintendo Switch has enjoyed strong lifecycle sales and consistent eShop activity since its global release in March 2017, frequently dominating UK bestseller charts.
The introduction of the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025, which brought updated hardware and enhanced gameplay experiences, was expected to bolster Nintendo’s market share.
However, the industry’s November 2025 figures indicate that even new hardware was not immune from overall contraction in consumer demand or potential market saturation. A spokesperson familiar with the UK retail sector described the November performance as part of a wider industry trend, noting, "Nintendo experienced the smallest year-on-year drop among the leading console manufacturers during a challenging month for hardware sales.
The debut of Switch 2 has helped temper declines, but demand fell across the board." Commentators have also attributed the relative resilience of Nintendo's sales to the timing of the Switch 2 release and sustained interest from both core and family audiences.
In contrast, the sharper declines seen by PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S emphasize heightened competition and evolving consumer habits amid a mature console generation. The November 2025 sales snapshot, verified by UK market monitoring organizations, underscores the evolving landscape facing hardware manufacturers such as Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft.
As the holiday season continues, eyes remain on upcoming digital promotions and first-party releases via the Nintendo eShop and other digital platforms, potentially influencing year-end totals. With Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 sales contracting by 19% yet outperforming major competitors in the UK, industry watchers note that the Nintendo brand remains a key pillar in the gaming market, even during periods of broader downturn.
Newly released market figures reveal that sales for both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 consoles fell by 19% compared to the same period last year.
These numbers arrive amidst ongoing shifts within the gaming industry and follow the launch of the anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 earlier in the year. While Nintendo managed to outperform its rivals regarding the scale of decline, the broader console market recorded even sharper drops.
According to verified UK sales data, Sony's PlayStation 5 experienced a steep 57% year-on-year decrease, despite aggressive Black Friday promotions, including digital edition discounts as low as £349.
Meanwhile, Microsoft's Xbox Series X|S registered the most significant contraction, with sales plummeting 78% compared to November 2024. The Nintendo Switch has enjoyed strong lifecycle sales and consistent eShop activity since its global release in March 2017, frequently dominating UK bestseller charts.
The introduction of the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025, which brought updated hardware and enhanced gameplay experiences, was expected to bolster Nintendo’s market share.
However, the industry’s November 2025 figures indicate that even new hardware was not immune from overall contraction in consumer demand or potential market saturation. A spokesperson familiar with the UK retail sector described the November performance as part of a wider industry trend, noting, "Nintendo experienced the smallest year-on-year drop among the leading console manufacturers during a challenging month for hardware sales.
The debut of Switch 2 has helped temper declines, but demand fell across the board." Commentators have also attributed the relative resilience of Nintendo's sales to the timing of the Switch 2 release and sustained interest from both core and family audiences.
In contrast, the sharper declines seen by PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S emphasize heightened competition and evolving consumer habits amid a mature console generation. The November 2025 sales snapshot, verified by UK market monitoring organizations, underscores the evolving landscape facing hardware manufacturers such as Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft.
As the holiday season continues, eyes remain on upcoming digital promotions and first-party releases via the Nintendo eShop and other digital platforms, potentially influencing year-end totals. With Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 sales contracting by 19% yet outperforming major competitors in the UK, industry watchers note that the Nintendo brand remains a key pillar in the gaming market, even during periods of broader downturn.
