It really was just a matter of time before momentum on sales of the Nintendo Switch 2 dipped a bit. Roughly a year and a half into the life of Nintendo’s newest console, it’s being reported by market research firm Circana that the Switch 2 is no longer the fastest-selling console in the United States. As part of its September 2026 report, Circana revealed that sales of the hybrid device dropped 12% year-over-year, which sounds more devastating than it really is.
Speaking to The Game Business, Circana senior director Mat Piscatella said, “The comps are weird on Switch 2 because it’s rare that such a successful device in its first year doesn’t have supply constraints. I’m not seeing anything to be concerned about in the Switch 2 numbers at all, and I’m sure it’s going to pop with Zelda.” Being readily available may have contributed to momentum temporarily dipping as demand isn’t being artificially driven upwards. It could also be that September was a rather quiet month for Nintendo with the only game it released being Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave.
It will be a couple of weeks before we get sales data for October 2026, but Piscatella said, “People are going to buy the hell out of the Zelda [Switch 2], and on eBay you’ll be able to find one for $4,000 if you want.” I imagine the launch of a special edition console variant right before the release of a remake of one of the most cherished games ever is sure to drive sales momentum. Even if it doesn’t, it’s not like the Switch 2 is a failure. As of June 30th, 2026, the console has moved 23.68 million units, which is astonishing and within spitting distance of the total sales of Xbox Series X|S within six years.
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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.
