Switch 2 Holiday Sales Reportedly Disappoint
▼ Summary
– The Switch 2’s US sales in November 2025 were down 35% compared to the original Switch’s sales in the same 2017 period.
– In the UK, Switch 2 sales for the same comparative period were down 16%, but its overall 2025 sales were up 6% year-on-year.
– France saw a steeper decline of over 30% in Christmas period sales compared to the original Switch, performing worse than the UK.
– In Japan, sales for the last nine weeks of 2025 were down 5.5%, but full-year 2025 sales were up 11% compared to the Switch’s launch year.
– An industry source cites a tough economy, higher prices, and a lack of a major Western game for the weaker holiday sales, despite the console’s overall record-breaking success.
Recent sales data reveals a mixed performance for the Nintendo Switch 2 during the crucial holiday season, with notable regional declines compared to its predecessor’s launch period. While the console continues to break records overall, its year-end sales figures in key markets have not met the heights of the original Switch, pointing to a complex set of market challenges.
In the United States, the situation appears particularly stark. Switch 2 sales for the November period fell by 35% compared to the original Switch’s performance during the same timeframe in 2017. This contributed to what has been reported as the worst November for console hardware sales in the country since 1995. The contrast is less severe in the United Kingdom, but still present, with a reported 16% drop for the same comparative launch windows.
Interestingly, the broader annual picture tells a different story. In both the UK and Japan, total Switch 2 sales for the full year 2025 actually surpassed the original Switch’s first-year totals, by 6% and 11% respectively. This suggests stronger initial adoption in the months following its release, even though the holiday surge was less pronounced. Japan’s holiday sales specifically saw a modest 5.5% decrease, with the Switch 2 selling 1.32 million units in the final nine weeks of 2025 versus the Switch’s 1.39 million in 2017.
One of the more surprising data points comes from France, typically a stronghold for Nintendo in Europe. Over the Christmas period, sales there were down by over 30% compared to the original Switch, making the UK’s performance look stronger by comparison. Industry analysis, citing conversations with senior Nintendo staff, points to several factors for the softer holiday showing. These include a “complicated economic landscape” affecting consumer spending, the console’s higher launch price point, and what is described as “the absence of a major Western game” to drive system sales during the gift-buying season.
Looking ahead, Nintendo’s 2026 strategy will be crucial. The current lineup, featuring titles like Mario Tennis Fever and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, lacks a perceived system-selling blockbuster. Market speculation, however, suggests a potential game-changer. Rumors of a Pokémon Gen 10 release later in 2026 could provide the massive holiday driver the platform needs, potentially securing a much stronger sales period next Christmas. The coming year will test whether the console’s strong cumulative sales momentum can be reignited for seasonal peaks.
(Source: Nintendo Life)
