"Nintendo Switch 2 Looms as Original Switch Sales Decline"

Nintendo has once again revised its hardware forecast downward, signaling that sales of the Nintendo Switch and its games have fallen "below expectations." Over the first nine months of the current financial year, Nintendo's dedicated game console business saw a significant year-on-year decrease of 31.7%, totaling 895.5 billion yen (approximately $5.7 billion). This decline is largely attributed to weaker sales of both the Nintendo Switch hardware and its software.

Similarly, revenue from mobile and IP-related ventures dropped by 33.9% year-on-year, reaching 49.7 billion yen (around $320 million). This downturn was primarily influenced by the challenging comparison to the previous year, which saw the release of the blockbuster movie, The Super Mario Bros. Movie. As a result of these declines, Nintendo's gross profit fell by 27.3% year-on-year to 565.5 billion yen (approximately $3.6 billion).

What's the Best Nintendo Switch Game?

Pick a winner

New duel1ST2ND3RDSee your ResultsFinish playing for your personal results or see the community’s!Continue playingSee results

Nintendo has adjusted its financial forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2025, marking the second consecutive downward revision. The company now anticipates selling fewer Nintendo Switch units than previously projected, with the new forecast reduced by 1.5 million to 11 million units. Software sales expectations have also been lowered by 10 million to 150 million units.

Given that the Nintendo Switch is now in its eighth year, a decline in sales is not unexpected. However, the extent of these declines has exceeded Nintendo's earlier predictions. Despite this, the Switch has achieved remarkable success, with over 150 million units sold. While surpassing Sony's PlayStation 2, which sold 160 million units, to become the best-selling video game console of all time might be out of reach, the Nintendo DS' record of 154 million units is within striking distance.

Nintendo described the sales of Switch and its software during the third quarter ending December 31, 2024, as "stable," considering the platform's age. Overall sales for the Nintendo Switch family of systems were down 30.6% year-on-year, totaling 9.54 million units. Software sales saw a 24.4% year-on-year decline to 123.98 million units. However, new releases such as The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (3.91 million sold), Super Mario Party Jamboree (6.17 million sold), Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (5.38 million sold), and Nintendo Switch Sports (2.63 million sold) performed well during this period. Mario & Luigi: Brothership also sold 1.4 million units.

Super Mario Party Jamboree has been a standout success, surpassing the sales pace of previous Mario Party titles on the Switch within the first 11 weeks of its release on October 17, 2024.

As Nintendo gears up for the launch of the Switch 2 later this year, the company reported a record-high number of 'annual playing users' at 129 million in 2024. This indicates that the Switch continues to engage fans, even nearly eight years after its initial release.

"Nintendo Switch unit sales declined year-on-year, but even in the eighth year since its launch in March 2017, Nintendo Switch continues to attract the interest of consumers, and sales in some weeks during the holiday season exceeded same-week sales of the previous year," Nintendo stated.

Given the recent financial report, investors are eager for the Nintendo Switch 2 to hit the market sooner rather than later. Nintendo, however, has a few more tricks up its sleeve for the original Switch, with upcoming releases like Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition set for March 20, and Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond slated for 2025.

Nintendo Switch 2 was mentioned, though no new details were shared beyond the previously announced release in 2025 and a video introduction of the hardware on January 16. Nintendo has scheduled a Switch 2 Direct for April 2, where more information will be revealed. Additionally, Nintendo plans to host hands-on events for the Switch 2 in various cities worldwide.