Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch 2 has exceeded all internal sales estimates shortly after its launch. During a meeting with investors, the company’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, reported that demand for the console exceeded the expected production capacity, which caused the device to
be out of stores in several countries.
The Switch 2 is estimated to have sold over 3.5 million units in just four days, representing a pace twice as fast as the original model in the same period.
In countries such as Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom, the console became the fastest hardware launch in Nintendo’s history. Thus, the Japanese company itself admitted that even some shareholders were unable to purchase the new console during its debut period.
Nintendo held a giveaway to meet demand for the Switch 2
To cope with the high demand, Nintendo introduced a lottery system for its My Nintendo Store online store, starting in April. According to Furukawa, more than 2.2 million people signed up for the first lottery alone. The company has held four rounds of lottery draws so far and has already announced a fifth for July.
BUY DONKEY KONG BANANZA ON AMAZON | PHYSICAL MEDIA | SWITCH 2
The president also publicly apologized, reinforcing that Nintendo did not expect such a significant volume in the first few weeks. The company internally reviewed its projections and acknowledged that the launch of the Switch 2 will require operational adjustments, especially in relation to distribution.
“Currently, in many countries, demand for Switch 2 exceeds supply, and we are unable to fully meet it. We understand that even some shareholders were unable to purchase the console. We began accepting lottery sales on the My Nintendo Store in April. The response has far exceeded our expectations, and I personally announced on X that there were 2.2 million entries, along with an apology,” he said.
In addition to Nintendo’s official store, many retailers have also opted to conduct sales through raffles, given the difficulty of serving all consumers. Furukawa said that the number of stores offering in-person sales is growing and that the company is working to expand production of the console and minimize delivery delays.
Industry analysts have already begun to revise their estimates based on this performance. Consulting firm DFC Intelligence has increased its forecast for global Switch 2 sales to 16 million units by the end of 2025. Without inventory constraints, the number could reach 20 million, according to the same report.
Not everything is a source of pride for Nintendo
Analysts have pointed out that the Switch 2 may suffer performance limitations due to software choices made by Nintendo . This is because the company opted for lower-quality components that, although they reduce costs, did not bring any real benefits to the user. Thus, this could affect everything from the fluidity of games to support for more demanding titles.
Additionally, technical analysis reveals that the quality of motion on the Switch 2’s screen is inferior to that of the original Switch and the OLED model . Digital Foundry points out that the display can generate visual blur in fast-paced games, which also results in a less enjoyable experience for those playing in handheld mode.
These technical issues were further highlighted by the underwhelming performance of third-party games on the console. Studios reported disappointing sales , with the exception of Cyberpunk 2077, which stood out on its debut.
