The launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 has proven to be an extraordinary success, with the console selling more than 3.5 million units, making it Nintendo’s fastest-selling piece of hardware to date. However, the same cannot be said for third-party games that were made available at the launch. Titles from publishers such as CD Projekt Red, Warner Bros., EA, Sega, and 2K were released alongside the console earlier this month, but reports indicate that their sales figures have not met expectations.
Third-Party Sales Underperform on Switch 2
Data gathered by The Game Business reveals that while third-party sales on the Switch 2 have slightly surpassed those on the original Switch, the increase is minimal. Despite the new console’s popularity, many third-party publishers have reported “very low” sales, with one unnamed publisher stating that their sales figures on the Switch 2 fell short of even their “lowest estimates.”
In contrast, CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 has distinguished itself as the top-selling third-party title during the launch period of the Switch 2. According to NielsenIQ data referenced in the report, it outperformed sales of The Witcher 3 on the original Switch.
Sega emerged as the third-largest publisher concerning sales for the Switch 2’s launch, following Nintendo’s own first-party titles and CD Projekt Red. The company introduced several games at launch, including Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut, Sonic X Shadow Generations, and Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S.
Nintendo’s first-party offerings dominated the sales landscape during the Switch 2’s debut. Reports indicate that first-party games accounted for 86 percent of physical game sales in the UK during the launch week, with the Mario Kart World bundle included in the figures. In the United States, first-party titles made up 62 percent of physical game sales, excluding the Mario Kart World bundle.
Key first-party releases on the Switch 2 included Mario Kart World, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, and Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. The trend among Switch 2 owners appears to favor physical copies, which represent over 80 percent of retail sales for games available both digitally and physically, according to the report.
The Nintendo Switch 2 debuted on June 5, achieving a remarkable 3.5 million units sold within its launch week. The hybrid console has set new records, becoming Nintendo’s fastest-selling gaming system and achieving the highest launch week sales figures for video game hardware in the United States, surpassing those of the PS4.
