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Switch 2’s Holiday Debut Lags Original in the West, Shows Relative Strength in Japan

A weaker games market, including the worst November since 1995, suppressed demand.

Overview

  • U.S. holiday-period sales for Switch 2 were about 35% lower than the original Switch, according to data relayed by The Game Business.
  • In the UK, sales over the final eight weeks of 2025 trailed the original by 16%, and France saw a drop of over 30%.
  • Japan outperformed on a launch-year basis with Switch 2 up 11% versus Switch 1, though nine-week totals were slightly lower at 1.32 million versus 1.39 million.
  • Industry tracker Circana reported the weakest November for gaming since 1995, and a senior Nintendo employee cited economic pressures, higher prices, and the absence of a major western title.
  • Including legacy Switch units, UK hardware sales rose 7% versus November–December 2017, and Switch 2’s first-year UK tally edged the original by 6% despite Switch 1’s longer first year.