Seasonal Switch 2 sales show significant slowing as annual cycle sunsets

The Nintendo Switch 2, which debuted to remarkable success last June, initially sold an impressive 3.5 million units globally within just four days. By the end of its first four months, total shipments surpassed the 10 million mark. However, recent findings from The Game Business indicate that the momentum of these early sales may have slipped significantly during the critical holiday season. In the United States, sales of the Switch 2 dropped approximately 35% in November and December when compared to the original Switch's performance during the same months in 2017. Similarly, in the UK, sales fell by 16% during the last eight weeks of the year. France saw a more pronounced decline, with Switch 2 sales down 30% relative to its predecessor for that period. The report highlights a notable slowdown in sales momentum across all major European markets during the Christmas sales window. Japan, conversely, experienced a milder decline, with holiday sales dropping only 5.5% compared to the original Switch. Notably, over the entire launch year, sales in Japan were up by 11%, possibly aided by a lower-cost version of the console designed specifically for the Japanese market, which is insulated from fluctuations in international currency. It's important to recognize that the original Switch set a high bar in its inaugural holiday season. Following its unexpected popularity after launching in March 2017, Nintendo increased production by 4 million units to address holiday demand, enabling the first Switch to sell 15 million units in its first full year. This performance mirrored the initial enthusiasm seen with the Nintendo Wii a decade prior.