According to IGN, the Nintendo Switch 2 has sold a staggering 10.36 million units in just six months, making it the biggest console launch of all time. Nintendo raised its hardware forecast in response, now expecting to sell 19 million Switch 2 units before March 2026. The console has doubled the launch sales of the original Switch, which sold 4.7 million in its first six months back in 2017. Mario Kart World, the flagship launch title, has sold 9.57 million copies with 8.1 million coming from console bundles. Donkey Kong Bananza follows with 3.49 million sales since July, while Pokémon Legends Z-A sold 5.8 million copies in just one week despite launching too recently for these official figures.
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Nintendo Is Absolutely Crushing It
Here’s the thing – these numbers are absolutely wild. The Switch 2 isn’t just beating its predecessor, it’s demolishing it. And it’s not just beating the PS5’s launch numbers either, which were admittedly supply-constrained. Basically, Nintendo has managed to pull off what many thought was impossible: following up one of the most successful consoles ever with something that’s performing even better out of the gate.
What’s really fascinating is how the software is driving this. Mario Kart World selling 9.57 million copies means nearly every Switch 2 owner bought the game. But get this – over a million people paid full price for it separately rather than getting the bundle. That’s some serious brand loyalty. And Pokémon Legends Z-A’s 5.8 million sales in a single week? That game is going to be an absolute monster in the next earnings report.
The Old Switch Isn’t Going Quietly
Meanwhile, the original Switch continues to be this bizarre evergreen product that just won’t quit. It’s sitting at 154 million units, literally just 10,000 sales away from passing the Nintendo DS. But can it catch the PlayStation 2’s 160 million? Probably not – Nintendo’s own forecast has it ending at 156 million by March 2026.
The craziest part? Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, a game that launched with the original Switch back in 2017, sold another 1.37 million copies in the last six months. Seriously, who doesn’t own this game by now? It’s become the gaming equivalent of that one kitchen appliance everyone has but nobody remembers buying.
What This Means for Everyone Else
So where does this leave Sony and Microsoft? In a pretty tough spot, honestly. The Switch 2’s success proves there’s still massive demand for dedicated gaming hardware that offers something different. Nintendo has carved out this perfect niche where they’re not directly competing on power but rather on experience and accessibility.
The pricing strategy seems to be working perfectly too. People are clearly willing to pay premium prices for Nintendo’s first-party games and hardware. And with the Switch 2’s momentum showing no signs of slowing, we’re probably looking at another 5-6 year dominance cycle for Nintendo. Basically, the gaming landscape just got a lot more interesting – and Nintendo is sitting pretty at the top. You can follow more industry analysis from Tom Phillips on Bluesky for ongoing coverage.
