Switch 2 hardware sales fell hard in Nintendo's latest results, but the number needs its context. The console sold 6.49 million units in the six months to September 30, down 37.4% from 10.36 million in the same period last year, Engadget reports. Nintendo isn't changing its plan: Engadget says it's keeping its forecast of 16.5 million Switch 2 units for the current fiscal year.
That forecast is almost 17% below the 19.86 million sold last year. Engadget reads that as a sign Nintendo anticipated lower sales.
The first-half numbers
Here's how the six months to September 30 shook out:
- Switch 2 hardware: 6.49 million units, down from 10.36 million, according to Engadget and PC Gamer.
- Original Switch hardware: 1.27 million units, down 32.7%, PC Gamer reports.
- Switch 2 software: 24.49 million units, up 18.8% from 20.62 million, PC Gamer reports.
- Original Switch software: 65.73 million units, up 6.8%, PC Gamer reports.
- Lifetime hardware: 26.35 million Switch 2 consoles and 157.20 million original Switches as of September 30, according to Nintendo's own sales page.
The comparison period was the Switch 2's launch window. The console arrived on June 5, 2025, Engadget notes, and PC Gamer points out it sold about 19.8 million units in its first year, ahead of the roughly 17.7 million the original Switch reached by the end of its first full year.
Nintendo's line, quoted by PC Gamer: "Although unit sales of Nintendo Switch 2 hardware declined compared to the same period of last fiscal year, many consumers continued to adopt the system, spurred on by factors like the release of new titles."
What about the price?
The price rise came too late in the period to explain most of the drop. PC Gamer reports that Nintendo announced it in May 2026 and applied it from September 1 in the US, Canada and Europe, taking the US price up $50 to $500, while Japan's increase took effect in May. So these figures don't yet show what $500 does to demand.
If you're worried about a second rise, there's one useful report. VGC says Nintendo's earnings presentation touched on memory shortages, and that Nintendo says it has enough stock that the price won't have to increase any time soon. Xarmo couldn't check that presentation directly, and VGC is the only outlet we found reporting it, so treat it as VGC's account of what Nintendo said rather than a confirmed commitment. VGC also expects the memory shortage to continue into 2027.
Nintendo Life reports that the company held 814.57 billion yen of inventory at September 30, a new record, as manufacturers try to avoid or delay further price rises during the RAM shortage.
Next up: Ocarina
A major new release arrived after the reporting period closed. VGC reports that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake launched on November 5 as the highest-rated game of the year on Metacritic, and says Nintendo is likely expecting it to help shift consoles into the holidays.
Jax's take: Ignore the scary 37% for a second and look at the useful bit: Switch 2 game sales are up. If you're fence-sitting with Ocarina out, the price report is worth knowing, but "not any time soon" isn't a promise. It's a statement about right now, and it's coming to you through one outlet.
Reporting notes
