A new report reveals that the Nintendo Switch 2 failed to match the original console’s sales during the first holiday period.
The Nintendo Switch 2 has been going strong in sales since its release, helping boost hardware sales across multiple months. The new console also reached a sales milestone of 10 million units in November 2025; however, it seems things have been declining since then.
Switch 2 Sales Fall Over First Holiday Period
A report by The Game Business reveals that Switch 2 sales have slowed during the holiday period, with the change more evident in Western markets. The Switch 2 fell short by 35% in the United States when compared to the original Switch in the same period in 2017. The situation is somewhat similar in Europe, with sales of the new console 16% lower than those of the previous one in the same period in the UK. However, overall Switch 2 sales in the UK were 6% higher than Switch 1’s.
A senior Nintendo employee revealed that a “complicated economic landscape” and “the absence of a major Western game” make it tough to compare the Switch to the original Switch; however, the team is happy with the overall performance. Moreover, sales were down in Japan during the holiday period as well, with the Switch 1 selling 1.39 million units during its first holiday period and the Switch 2 selling 1.32 million. When taking the whole year into account in Japan, Switch 2 sales were up 11% compared to the original console.
In other news, here are the nine biggest Switch and Switch 2 games releasing this year. Additionally, the PlayStation 5 beat the Switch 2 in US hardware sales in November 2025. What are your thoughts on Switch 2’s first holiday sales failing to match the original console? Leave your thoughts down in the comments, and join the official Insider Gaming Discord server.
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