Nintendo Source Blames Switch 2 Holiday Sales Slowdown on the Economic Landscape and the 'Absence of a Major Western Game' — Despite the Release of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Nintendo Switch 2 income implicit the holidays reportedly fell abbreviated of those recorded by the console's predecessor backmost successful 2017, during its archetypal end-of-year season.

As revealed by The Game Business, Switch 2 income successful the US and wrong cardinal markets successful Europe fell down the equivalent gait of Switch 1 — thing an unnamed elder Nintendo root blamed connected a "complicated" economical clime today, and the "absence of a large Western game" during the year-end period.

That peculiar investigation volition apt rise eyebrows among Nintendo fans, arsenic the institution launched the long-awaited Metroid Prime 4: Beyond during the play — albeit to a much muted captious effect than the franchise's beloved archetypal trilogy. Nintendo has truthful acold made nary announcement connected however that crippled has fared.

The Game Business reports that US Switch 2 income implicit the vacation play were down astir 35% versus the Switch 1's income show backmost successful 2017. In the UK, a akin examination saw Switch 2 lagging Switch 1 by 16%. Even successful Nintendo's homeland of Japan, Switch 2 vacation income couldn't lucifer Switch 1, and were down by 5.5% implicit the year's last 9 weeks.

In France, 2025's last tally of Switch 2 income was down by "over 30%" versus the magnitude Switch 1 notched up backmost successful 2017, meanwhile.

While these numbers whitethorn instrumentality immoderate of the radiance disconnected of a palmy archetypal twelvemonth for Switch 2 overall, it's not each doom and gloom. Switch 2's beingness income successful Japan are inactive supra what Switch 1 managed successful its archetypal year, with little clip connected sale. And successful the UK, Switch 1 continued to merchantability good capable that it made up Switch 2's vacation income deficit.

Looking ahead, Nintendo has a smattering of first-party games already planned for 2026, including Mario Tennis Fever, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book and Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, arsenic good arsenic Switch 2 upgrades for Super Mario Wonder and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. There's besides the FromSoftware exclusive The Duskbloods to look guardant to, and the promising-looking Pokémon Pokopia beingness sim.

But arsenic the Switch 2 prepares to observe its archetypal day successful June, each eyes volition beryllium connected Nintendo to rotation retired a genuinely caller blockbuster introduction successful 1 of its biggest franchises. Back successful 2017, Switch 1's archetypal twelvemonth was marked by the motorboat of some Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Nintendo has not released a large caller 3D Mario platformer since, portion it volition soon beryllium 3 years since the accomplishment of 2023's The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

Switch 1's different top-selling titles see Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Animal Crossing: New Horizons — and for now, there's nary proposition a large caller introduction successful either franchise is forthcoming. Smash Bros. bid brag Masahiro Sakurai has lone conscionable finished enactment connected Kirby Air Riders, portion Nintendo is opting to update New Horizons for Switch 2 this year, arsenic antecedently mentioned.

Could we spot a caller 3D Mario successful 2026? Nine years connected from Super Mario Odyssey, present feels similar the close time. And past there's Pokémon, which celebrates its 30th day adjacent month. Could we get a glimpse soon of the series' long-awaited 10th generation? The accomplishment of these titles would surely assistance Switch 2 support its momentum, pursuing past year's explosive launch.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social