Japan's Market Tells A Different Story About The Switch 2's Success

Early 2026 reports suggested Nintendo Switch 2 was trailing its predecessor, falling below the Switch 1's sales curve over its first December period in the US and Europe. A question started to form about whether the new hybrid console was a strong start with bad legs. But in Japan, that doesn't seem to be the case. Information gathered from original reports by Kadokawa Game Linkage and Famitsu shows Japan's console game market received a significant boost year-on-year in 2025, and the new hardware is at the center of it.

Via Automaton West, we know that the growth reached 138.8% across the board. This pushed the market to 418.13 billion yen, which amounts to around $2.64 billion. These figures are grounded in physical software and hardware sales reported through the end of 2025, meaning they include the bulk of the Christmas shopping that defines every December. We have not seen the specific data for just that holiday period, but the overall strength is undeniable. I find it important to note that these figures do not include digital sales, DLC, or in-game purchases. The full picture is likely even more impressive. In Nintendo's home turf, the Switch 2 is outpacing the original Switch's first year, and it seems every other console's as well.

The presence of a new machine did not stop the original Switch from performing admirably, given its age. It reportedly sold 1.52 million units in Japan in 2025. That figure placed it above the PS5’s sales in the country during the same year. It must be noted that other charts aren't as optimistic, but the information demonstrates how effectively Nintendo hardware dominates the Japanese market. Looking at the best-selling physical games, the story is consistent. Mario Kart World sold 2.668 million units and Pokémon Legends: Z-A sold 2.534 million units, with these figures combining the releases for both Switch 1 and Switch 2.

Switch 2’s first year did not follow the familiar script. Nintendo entered the market with expectations shaped by the original Switch, a system that launched alongside era-defining hits and built momentum through safe, confident sequencing. Instead of repeating that approach, Nintendo spent Switch 2’s first year releasing games that challenged habits, sidelined marquee assumptions, and tested how much deviation its audience would tolerate. Switch 2’s first year became less about dominance and more about definition. With early 2026 bringing a strong focus on iconic JRPG series like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest making their jump to Switch 2, there is little reason to expect a slowdown. These are arriving even before the first-party heavy hitters, indicating a sustained strategy for market growth.

Read also about Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, a game that quietly became a solid contender in the kart racing scene, is finally getting a physical release for the Nintendo Switch 2. I played the digital version when it launched last year, and while it didn't make a huge splash, it offered a compelling alternative to the more simplified, albeit polished, experience of Mario Kart World. The digital version for the Switch 2 arrived about a month ago, and now we have a firm date for the physical release: March 26.