With Nintendo Switch 2 Waiting in the Wings, Sales of the Original Switch and Its Games Continue to Tumble

Nintendo's hardware sales forecast takes another hit as Switch sales fall short of projections. For the first nine months of the fiscal year, dedicated game console sales dropped 31.7% year-over-year to 895.5 billion yen (approximately $5.7 billion), reflecting decreased sales of both the Nintendo Switch console and its software. Mobile and IP-related revenue also experienced a significant decline of 33.9% year-over-year, reaching 49.7 billion yen (approximately $320 million), primarily due to the challenging comparison with 2023's highly successful The Super Mario Bros. Movie. This resulted in a 27.3% year-over-year decrease in gross profit to 565.5 billion yen (approximately $3.6 billion).

What's the Best Nintendo Switch Game?

Choose Your Champion

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

Nintendo has further revised its financial forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2025, marking the second consecutive downward revision. The company anticipates even lower Nintendo Switch hardware sales, reducing its projection by 1.5 million units to 11 million, and software sales by 10 million units to 150 million.

While sales declines were expected for the eight-year-old Switch, the magnitude surpasses Nintendo's initial predictions. Nevertheless, the Switch has achieved remarkable success, surpassing 150 million units sold. While overtaking the PlayStation 2's 160 million sales to become the best-selling console of all time may be unlikely, the Nintendo DS's 154 million sales are within reach.

Nintendo characterized Switch and software sales in its third quarter (ending December 31, 2024) as "stable considering the platform's eighth year." Overall Switch family sales decreased by 30.6% year-over-year to 9.54 million units, while software sales fell by 24.4% to 123.98 million units. However, Nintendo highlighted strong sales of new titles: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (3.91 million), Super Mario Party Jamboree (6.17 million), Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (5.38 million), and Nintendo Switch Sports (2.63 million) during the quarter. Mario & Luigi: Brothership also sold 1.4 million units.

Super Mario Party Jamboree stands out as a significant success, outpacing previous Mario Party titles on the Switch within its first 11 weeks of release (October 17, 2024).

Crucially, active Switch users reached an all-time high of 129 million annual players in 2024, indicating continued engagement despite the console's age, a positive sign as Nintendo prepares for the Switch 2 launch later this year.

Nintendo acknowledged the year-over-year decline in Switch unit sales but emphasized continued consumer interest, with some holiday weeks exceeding sales from the previous year.

Are you planning on getting a Switch 2?

Yes, on day 1! Nope, I’m fine with my current setup.I'm waiting to find out more – games, specs, etc!AnswerSee Results

In light of the financial report, investors eagerly anticipate the Switch 2's release. Nintendo confirmed upcoming Switch titles: Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition (March 20 release) and Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (scheduled for 2025). The company also reiterated the Switch 2's planned 2025 release, promising a dedicated Direct presentation on April 2nd and hands-on events globally.