The Nintendo Switch 2 didn't perform as well as might have been expected during the 2025 holiday season, and now a report sheds light on why. Although many Switch 2 owners are enjoying their new console, the device failed to beat the original Nintendo Switch's holiday sales in its own launch year, 2017.
While the holidays may not have brought the numbers Nintendo wanted, the Switch 2 has had no shortage of success thus far. The console outsold the original Switch at launch, and despite much early speculation that the system would struggle to move units, the Switch 2 sold over 1 million units in the US in its very first week on store shelves.
Nintendo is reportedly ramping up production of the Switch 2
Just months after launch, Switch 2 sales have soared past major milestones, with Nintendo reportedly ramping up console production.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is experiencing some sales issues during the 2025 holiday season
Now, a report from The Game Business claims that the Switch 2 fell short of sales expectations during the Christmas shopping season last year. According to their unnamed internal Nintendo source, the reason was partly due to the economy, as well as the lack of “a major Western game” releasing in late 2025. The report compared the holiday season sales of the Switch and Switch 2 in their launch years of 2025 and 2017, respectively, and found that the Switch 2 was down 35% compared to its predecessor in the US. Other regions were not exempt, with the UK seeing 16% fewer sales, and even Japan, which notably has access to a cheaper Switch 2 than the rest of the world, where it saw 5.5% fewer sales in the last two months of the year.
While the Switch 2 came out with some strong hits, especially from developers outside of Nintendo, there are some potential weaknesses in its early game lineup and overall sales plan. For example, the original Switch launched with the mega hit The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildand received many Nintendo titles in its first year, including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 2, Xenoblade Chronicles 2and more. Switch 2, on the other hand, saw Donkey Kong Banana, Mario Kart World, Pokemon Legends: ZAand Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Despite the long wait Metroid and the build-up of excitement, that and the others may not have been enough in the way of original Nintendo games to drive holiday sales.
On top of that, the Nintendo Switch 2 is in the unusual position of sharing sales with the original Switch. The OG Switch is still on sale, and games are still being produced for it, including the ones mentioned above Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokemon Legends: ZA. Some gamers who own a Nintendo Switch may not see enough reason to upgrade right now, while those without may have opted to buy an original Switch at a lower price, rather than splurge on the latest console. The Switch 2 also launched at a higher price than its predecessor, with the base console costing $449.99 in the US at launch, while the original Switch only cost $299.99.
Nintendo Switch 2 still has a bright future
While the holidays may not have been a blowout for Switch 2 sales for Nintendo, the console is likely to achieve a lot of future success. Big entries in hit franchising that Zelda, Marioand Splatoon will eventually make their way to the Switch 2, and as the years go by, fewer titles will be released across both consoles, in favor of the Switch 2's superior capabilities. Pokémon will also likely help the system in 2026, with Pokemon Pokopia launching this year exclusively for Switch 2, alongside more games from Nintendo, as well as simultaneous launches of third-party games such as Resident Evil Requiem on the road.
- Stamp
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Nintendo
- Original release date
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June 5, 2025
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$449.99
- Operating system
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Proprietary
- Resolution
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1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)
- HDR support
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Yes
