The Nintendo Switch 2 has shipped fewer units over its debut holiday season than the original Switch, likely due to a lack of major first-party releases.
The Nintendo Switch 2 had an explosive launch, ranking among the best console debuts in history. This is despite a weak lack of first-party titles in its first year, especially compared to the original Switch, which launched with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, received Super Mario Odyssey and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe a few months later, and closed out the year with Xenoblade Chronicles 2.
2026 is here, which means the results for the first holiday season are filtering out. According to The Game Business, the Nintendo Switch 2's holiday sales were around 35% lower than the original Switch's during the same period, suggesting it had a much slower Christmas than its predecessor.
Nintendo Switch 2's Sales Lower Than Switch's Debut Holiday Period
According to The Game Business, results vary by region, with the Nintendo Switch 2 seeing 35% lower sales in the United States and more varied results across. Europe. The Nintendo Switch 2 wasn't alone in this regard; the 2025 holiday season was the worst...
