Summary
Industry analysts predicted that the sales figures of theNintendo Switch 2would be healthy but still fall short of the original Switch’s figures, which stood at over 146 million global units sold since 2017. The predictions came one day after Nintendo officially revealed theSwitch 2after weeks of leaks and speculation surrounding the upcoming system.
While the Switch 2 has been Nintendo’s worst-kept secret since the latter half of 2024, the Switch’s successor will pick up where the original left off. Some ofthe Switch 2’s major confirmed featuresthat have been revealed include a bigger screen, two USB-C ports on the system, backward compatibility with most physical and digital Nintendo Switch titles, and upgraded Joy-Con controllers that attach from the side of the console. The new Joy-Cons will have an increased size, a new C-button on the right Joy-Con, and optical sensors that could be used for mouse-like functionality in compatible games.
Though Nintendo will reveal more information about the Switch 2 closer to launch, analysts weighed in with their thoughts about how well the system will sell.According to IGN, several industry analysts, including Circana’s Mat Piscatella, predicted that the Switch 2 would sell plenty of units within the first year of availability, but that sales could quickly taper off and fall short of the Switch’s figures. At the time of writing, the original Switch sold over 146 million units worldwide, making it one ofthe top-selling consoles of all time. However, this will not mean that the Switch 2 will be a flop like the Wii U, as Piscatella noted that the Switch was an outlier following the Wii U’s failures, and noted that the games released on the Switch were consistently topping sales charts.
Analysts Predict the Switch 2 May Not Sell As Well As the Original Switch
The analysts concurred that the Switch 2’s backward compatibility with most Switch games will be tantamount to the console’s success. However, the Switch 2’s initial success may come down to the launch price and what customers will get out of the box. Although most analysts predicted thatthe Switch 2’s starting pricecould be around $400, others noted that a starting price as high as $500 would likely not deter most consumers.
A Nintendo Direct presentation scheduled for April 2 will shed more light on the Switch 2, as the system’s price, release date, and launch window games will likely be revealed. WithNintendo shoring up its Switch 2 supply chainahead of release, only time will tell how the market will react.
Nintendo Switch 2
The successor to 2017’s Nintendo Switch continues down the same path as its predecessor, providing a hybrid experience that supports both home and handheld gaming. Launching on May 13, 2025, with games like Mario Kart World, the basic Nintendo Switch 2 bundle comes with the console, Joy-Con 2, straps for the controller, a dock, an AC adapter, an HDMI cable, and a Joy-Con 2 grip.
