Switch 2 is still selling, but far more slowly than in its debut year. Nintendo shipped 6.49 million Switch 2 units in the April to September half, down 37.4% from 10.36 million in the same six months a year earlier, for a lifetime total of 26.35 million. The slowdown also continued within the half. Nintendo moved 3.82 million consoles in April–June, then 2.67 million in July–September.

That drop was expected. Nintendo had predicted a second-year decline because of price increases and ample stock at launch. VGC’s launch-aligned comparison still puts Switch 2 more than six million units ahead of both the original Switch and PS5. Both of those earlier consoles faced supply shortages, though.

The quarter’s sales fell 15%. Operating profit fell 16% to 73.9 billion yen, below analyst estimates. Revenue of 448.2 billion yen and net profit of 73.5 billion yen also missed estimates. Over the full half, net sales fell 12.1% to 966.0 billion yen. Operating profit rose 49.1% to 216.5 billion yen, and net profit rose 11.0% to 220.9 billion yen. Part of that gain came from a lower cost of sales in the first quarter, after refunds of US tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Quartz reported.

Nintendo keeps its forecast and rules out another price rise

Nintendo left its May 8 outlook unchanged, including its target of 16.5 million Switch 2 units. It still expects 2.05 trillion yen in net sales, 370.0 billion yen in operating profit and 310.0 billion yen in net profit. That outlook already absorbs about 100.0 billion yen in costs from higher component prices, including memory, and from tariffs.

Separately, Switch 2 got more expensive in the US, Canada and Japan during the quarter. The US price went up $50 to $499.99. For President Shuntaro Furukawa, another price change after this year’s increase is not under consideration. In his view, the memory situation has not changed significantly, and Nintendo can secure enough supply.

Investors are less relaxed. Two concerns weigh on shareholders: tight memory supply and too few major Switch 2 games, Reuters reported.

Software sales are rising while hardware cools

Game sales tell a different story. Switch 2 software shipments for the half rose 18.8% to 24.49 million units, up from 20.62 million. Lifetime Switch 2 software stands at 73.21 million units.

Mario Kart World leads the platform at 16.48 million copies. Donkey Kong Bananza follows at 5.05 million. Splatoon Raiders has reached 2.42 million. Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave sits at 1.34 million, and Star Fox at 1.17 million.

[任天堂HP]「2027年3月期 第2四半期 決算短信」を掲載しました。https://t.co/bL9hJlWLTP

— 任天堂株式会社（企業広報・IR） (@NintendoCoLtd) November 5, 2026

The older console is still a factor too. Original Switch hardware shipments fell 32.7% to 1.27 million. Software for that system grew 6.8% to 65.73 million. Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, at 8.81 million, and Rhythm Heaven Groove, at 2.89 million, both count toward the original Switch total.

For players, the takeaway is mixed. The current price is not expected to rise again, and the library keeps growing. But Nintendo now needs a strong holiday season to reach its target. The company has scheduled an online briefing on its first-half results and corporate management policy for November 6.

Sources

  • Nintendo Co., Ltd. : Investor Relations Information (Nintendo)
  • Nintendo missed on earnings as Switch 2 sales dropped sharply amid price hikes (Quartz)
  • Nintendo Switch 2 sales have dropped 37%, but it's still comfortably beating the original console (VGC)
  • Sony profit jumps on 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day'; Nintendo earnings slide (Reuters via AOL)

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