Switch 2 Had A Rough Christmas Despite A Big Launch-Year Line-Up

New sales data and reporting indicate that while Nintendo’s Switch 2 had a massive launch earlier this year, the console’s momentum has slowed as its holiday performance failed to match the success the OG Switch enjoyed during its first holiday season. One senior Nintendo employee blamed a “complicated economic landscape.”

On January 8, The Game Business reported that Switch 2 sales in the United States over the holiday shopping season of November and December were down around 35 percent when compared to those of the original Switch during its first Christmas back in 2017. This isn’t too surprising considering the recent data released by retail tracker Circana, which indicated that U.S. console sales had their worst November since 1995. Still, I’d just assumed the Switch 2 was powering through. Instead, it seems to be struggling like everyone else.

Over in Europe, Switch 2 sales were also down. In the last eight weeks of the year in the UK, the Switch 2 sold 16 percent fewer consoles than the OG console during that same time period in 2017. However, it should be noted that overall, the Switch 2 sold about 6 percent more in 2025 than the Switch did in 2017 in the UK, so it’s not all bad news. Over in France, though, it is very bad news for Nintendo as the Switch 2 sold 30 percent less than the Switch in its first year on the market. The Game Business also reports that all major European markets saw a slowdown in Switch 2 sales over the holiday shopping season.

The outlet says that one senior employee at Nintendo blamed the lower sales numbers on a “complicated economic landscape” that included higher price points and “the absence of a major Western game” during the Christmas season. Still, the employee says they and others are proud of what Nintendo pulled off in a tricky year for the game industry. As tariffs continue to plague companies, prices skyrocket, and important components get gobbled up by AI hyperscalers, it’s likely that 2026, like 2025, will be a tough time for console makers, even Nintendo.