According to Wccftech, Nintendo just dropped some impressive numbers for the Switch 2’s launch period. The new console sold 10.36 million units by September 30, significantly outpacing the original Switch’s early sales pace. Software sales hit 20.62 million copies, with Mario Kart World dominating at 9.57 million units sold. And get this—Nintendo just revised its full-year forecast upward from 15 million to 19 million units.
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Off to the races
Here’s the thing about hitting 10 million units this quickly—it basically confirms the Switch 2 is picking up right where its predecessor left off. The original Switch took about ten months to reach similar numbers, while this new model did it in what, six months? That’s insane momentum.
And the software attach rate tells an even more interesting story. Nearly two games per console means people aren’t just buying the hardware—they’re actually playing it. Mario Kart World moving almost 10 million copies alone? That’s basically one copy for every console sold. Talk about a system seller.
Beating the odds
Now here’s what makes this even more impressive. Remember those US tariffs everyone was worried about? DFC Intelligence actually downgraded their forecast from 17 million to 15 million specifically because of that issue. But Nintendo’s like, “Nah, we’re good.” They just raised their own forecast to 19 million.
So what’s driving this? I think it’s a combination of the massive Switch install base transitioning over and Nintendo nailing the launch lineup. When you’ve got Mario Kart and Donkey Kong hitting these numbers right out of the gate, you’re doing something right. The hybrid concept clearly still resonates too—people want that flexibility.
What this means going forward
Looking at these numbers, the Switch 2 seems positioned to potentially match or even exceed the original’s legendary run. But can it maintain this pace? That’s the real question.
The original Switch is winding down pretty gracefully—they revised its forecast down to 4 million units while bumping software expectations. It’ll probably fall just short of the PlayStation 2’s all-time record, but honestly, does that even matter? Nintendo’s basically executing a perfect handoff between generations here.
If they can keep the big games coming and navigate the tariff situation, we might be looking at another monster hit. The Switch 2 isn’t just successful—it’s already shaping up to be exactly what Nintendo needed.
