The start was a triumph. In just a few months, the Switch 2 has established itself as the fastest-selling console in Nintendo history. However, behind these impressive figures, an unexpected slowdown is starting to worry.
According to several consistent sources, including Bloomberg, Nintendo has decided to reduce its production for the current quarter. The rate drops from 6 million to 4 million units, a drop of around a third. A decision taken less than a year after the official launch, on June 5, when the console has already sold 17.37 million copies.
Switch 2, a record success already hampered by falling demand
On paper, the Switch 2 remains a phenomenon. With 3.5 million units sold in just four days and 17 million in seven months, the console has surpassed all previous Nintendo records. But this dazzling dynamic seems to have reached its first ceiling.
The slowdown is particularly visible in the United States, a market that has historically been favorable to Nintendo. The company’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, admitted in February that “overseas sales were somewhat lower than expected.”
This decline contrasts with the situation in Japan, where a more accessible version of the console, sold for around 271 euros, continues to support sales. Nintendo even agrees to sell at a loss to maintain momentum.
Catalog of games and weak signals, which weakens the Switch 2
Beyond the raw figures, it is above all the lack of major games which seems to weigh on the console. The most striking example remains Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Despite waiting for several years, the title only reached one million sales in its first month.
A start considered weak for a license supposed to carry the machine. Analyst Amir Anvarzadeh sums up the situation bluntly: “This hardware deficit in its first year, during the big holiday season, is terrible news. The software catalog has clearly been poor, at least until very recently with Pokémon showing some signs of hope.” This slight rebound is embodied in Pokémon Pokopia, which has already exceeded two million sales. But this isolated success is not yet enough to fully revive the dynamic.
Costs, competition and uncertainties, the challenges that accumulate for Nintendo
The situation is not limited to player demand. Nintendo must also deal with a significant increase in production costs, particularly linked to the explosion in the price of memory, fueled by the development of artificial intelligence.
This pressure could push the manufacturer to revise its prices upwards, a risky choice in an already fragile context. At the same time, other threats are looming, such as the highly anticipated release of GTA VI scheduled for November. If this blockbuster does not arrive on Switch 2, it could divert some players to other platforms.
Geopolitical tensions also complicate global logistics, extending delivery times and forcing Nintendo to adjust its industrial strategy.
A decisive second year for the future of the Switch 2
Despite these warning signs, Nintendo does not seem to be panicking. The company remains confident in the long-term potential of its console, while closely monitoring sales developments.
An internal hypothesis suggests an overly effective launch effect: the most motivated players would have bought the console as soon as it was released, leaving a gap that was difficult to fill. A situation which could be balanced over time.
The real test, however, remains to come. Historically, it’s the second year that determines the lasting success of a console. This is when third-party publishers become involved massively and sales can take off… or stagnate.