Alongside news of the Switch 2 getting a price increase this morning, Nintendo has stated that it expects to see sales of the Switch 2 slow as 2026 progresses. The statement comes as part of the company’s Q1 2026 fiscal results, which included stats such as the Nintendo Switch 2 having moved 19.86 million consoles since its release last June. That puts the console roughly five million units ahead of the original Switch during the same period, not to mention six million units ahead of the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 for the same time frame.
Even with the console’s strong first year momentum, Nintendo is predicting that sales in year two will be around 16.5 million units, which is roughly 17% fewer consoles than year one. This is reflected in slowing sales across North America and Europe, where the higher relative price has put a damper on some of the enthusiasm around the device. Nintendo also notes that higher initial stock allowed people to grab the console earlier on, resulting in holiday sales being muted compared to previous generations.
Speaking to VGC, Dr. Serkan Toto (CEO of consultancy firm Kantan Games) said the following:
“We truly live in weird times. Usually, unit sales of new consoles increase in year two – whereas Nintendo now predicts them to drop 17 percent. This is of course due to the price hikes that seem to be inevitable against the backdrop of the memory crisis we are in, but Nintendo is trying to build an initial install base and not got caught on the wrong foot. Overall, I expect this fiscal year to be a relatively silent one for Nintendo.”
With the announcement that digital versions of games will cost $10 less than their physical counterparts, Nintendo seems poised to combat increased console prices by offsetting the cost of games a little. While that might agitate physical collectors, it should assuage parents who are looking for cheaper prices. It’s certainly a good push to incentivize going digital, at any rate.
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Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
