Economy. 3.5 million Switch 2 consoles sold in four days: record sales for Nintendo

Japanese video game giant Nintendo announced Wednesday that it had sold 3.5 million units of its new Switch 2 hybrid console worldwide in just four days, following a highly anticipated launch on June 5. "This is a record for a Nintendo console in the first four days" of its release, the company said in a statement.

The Switch 2 had seen a significant surge in pre-orders, with 2.2 million requests on the Nintendo eShop in Japan alone before its launch. The excitement led to the temporary cancellation of some pre-orders due to insufficient stock, particularly in the UK.

“Maintaining the enthusiasm”

Despite the much higher price, Nintendo expects to sell 15 million Switch 2s by March 2026, roughly the same as the Switch sold in its first year.

"Sales momentum will be difficult to maintain in the long term," warns Darang Candra of market research firm Niko Partners. "Consumers may want to buy ahead of possible price increases due to possible tariffs imposed by the United States," he said.

Consoles destined for North America are primarily produced in Vietnam, which is subject to a 46% surcharge, currently suspended until early July.

"Its long-term success will depend on Nintendo's ability to maintain (public) enthusiasm with new games" and to convince casual gamers in emerging markets such as the Middle East and Asian countries outside Japan, Darang Candra added.

Another potential obstacle: the Switch's price tag is considered expensive. The Switch 2 retails for €469.99 in Europe ($449.99 in the US), while its predecessor launched at €329.99. Switch 2 titles like Donkey Kong Bonanza and Mario Kart World will also be more expensive.

Huge challenge for Nintendo

"The lineup includes the Mario Kart World for Switch 2 bundle, which includes a Japanese-language Switch 2 console (available in Japan only) and a digital version of Mario Kart World released on the same day. This is an affordable offering," Nintendo said Wednesday.

Nintendo is hoping to match the Switch's runaway success: released in March 2017, it has since sold more than 152 million units, making it the third best-selling console of all time behind Sony's PlayStation 2 and the Nintendo DS.

But after eight years, sales had slowed (they plunged 22% in 2024-2025), as fatigue set in while waiting for its next version. The stakes are high for Nintendo: although it is diversifying into theme parks and blockbuster movies, around 90% of its revenue comes from its flagship console.