Nintendo is Thinking (very) Big for its Switch 2 Sales

VIDEO GAMES: Nintendo has revealed its sales targets for the Switch 2. The Japanese firm hopes to sell 19 million consoles before March 31, 2026, compared to 15 initially planned

Nintendo raised its sales targets for its Switch 2 console and its financial forecasts on Tuesday. The Japanese video game giant expects record revenue for its 2025/26 financial year. After having made a turbo start upon its release with 3.5 million copies sold in four days, the hybrid console confirmed its performance in the July-September quarter. It has sold a total of more than 10 million copies. Rising figures, unlike his price which dropped by 50€.

Nintendo now hopes to sell 19 million before March 31, compared to 15 million expected so far. Sales still below forecasts by some analysts. According to information from the Bloomberg agency published last month, the Japanese firm has asked its suppliers to accelerate the pace to produce 25 million Switch 2s by the end of March.

“We expect demand for the Switch 2 to remain strong, especially as the console accelerates sales in non-traditional markets such as China”, where the original Switch is already the most popular games console, said Darang Candra, of Niko Partners, interviewed by AFP before the announcement of the results.

The Switch 2 wants to dethrone its big sister

Nintendo intends to do better than the Switch 1, which has sold more than 154 million units. Even if the second generation of hybrid console is off to a flying start, the rest of its journey remains uncertain. Recent customs duties imposed by the United States, which represents 40% of Nintendo’s turnover, impact sales and prices of the Switch 2. American imports from Vietnam, the largest producer of Switch 2, are thus taxed at 20%. Enough to cause console prices to soar and therefore limit the number of sales.

To be less dependent on console sales, Nintendo is also aiming to increase its game sales. It is banking in particular on the compatibility of Switch 1 games with its little sister to support its results and ensure a smooth transition, while continuing to sell its old console.

Pokémon Legends: ZA, released in October on Switch 1 and 2, sold nearly 6 million units in its first week, a solid start although below previous releases. The Japanese firm also announced new updates on Animal Crossing: New Horizons with a port to Nintendo Switch 2 and new features.

Attract players from all backgrounds

Nintendo also plans to attract new players to the Switch 2 by releasing major series games available from its competitors Sony and Microsoft. The publisher notably announced opuses of the survival horror franchise Resident Evil and from the series of Final Fantasy VII remake. “Multiplatform development is becoming the norm in the Japanese video game industry, and it is important to see if the Switch 2 fits into this trend”, Junko Yamamura said in a note from JP Morgan.

The Switch 2 also allows you to use its controllers like a computer mouse, “a design choice aimed at attracting PC games and players”, underlines Darang Candra. For the full year, Nintendo now expects a net profit of 350 billion yen (2 billion euros) compared to 300 billion yen so far, which would represent a jump of 25% year-on-year. It forecasts that its sales will almost double over one year to 2,250 billion yen (12.7 billion euros), which would be a record.