Nintendo’s new console, the switch 2, has reportedly reached a staggering sales milestone just weeks after hitting the market. The system is said to have surpassed 5 million units sold worldwide in less than a month. This rapid pace positions the Switch 2 as a potential frontrunner for the fastest-selling console launch in history. While Nintendo hasn’t made a formal public announcement confirming this specific 5 million figure, the number did appear briefly on the company’s investor relations website before being quickly removed, suggesting its accuracy.
Unpacking the Record-Breaking Speed
The temporarily available information indicated it took the Nintendo Switch 2 merely 26 days from its launch date to cross the 5 million units sold threshold globally. This follows earlier confirmed data from Nintendo itself, which stated the console sold over 3.5 million units worldwide within its initial four days on sale. That figure included 3 million units in the very first 24 hours alone, marking it as Nintendo’s fastest-selling hardware launch globally and surpassing the PlayStation 4’s previous record of 1 million units in its first day.
Putting the 5-million-in-26-days achievement into perspective reveals its unprecedented nature. The PlayStation 5, for instance, took roughly two and a half months to reach the same 5 million unit mark after its launch. Nintendo’s original Switch console, despite its eventual massive success, took a full four months to hit 5 million units sold worldwide back in 2017. The Switch 2’s initial sales trajectory is clearly outpacing its predecessors and key competitors significantly.
Comparing Switch 2’s Debut Globally
The early global sales figures paint a picture of extremely high demand and a potent launch. Achieving over 3.5 million units in just four days places the Switch 2 significantly ahead of many historical console debuts. The original Nintendo Switch sold over 1.5 million units in its first week, the PlayStation 5 sold around 2.1 million in its first week (despite supply constraints), the PS4 hit 1 million in its first 24 hours, and the Nintendo Wii managed 600,000 in its first week. Even the legendary PlayStation 2 sold under a million units in its first weekend in Japan.
Based on the speed at which it achieved these early milestones, particularly the reported 5 million units in under a month, the Nintendo Switch 2’s launch is being widely discussed as potentially the biggest console debut ever seen, at least in terms of initial velocity.
Regional Wins: Japan, UK, and Beyond
While global numbers impress, breaking down sales by region offers valuable insight. The initial 5 million units reportedly sold were distributed across major markets:
America: 1.8 million units
Japan: 1.47 million units
Europe: 1.18 million units
Other regions: 550,000 units
Japan’s Historic Debut: Record-Setter
The performance in Japan has been particularly historic for Nintendo. Data from Famitsu indicates the Switch 2 sold an incredible 947,931 units in its first week in Japan alone. This figure sets a new record for console launches in the country, easily surpassing the previous record holder, the PlayStation 2, which sold 630,552 units in its debut week in Japan. It also dwarfs the original Nintendo Switch’s first-week sales in Japan (330,637 units). Famitsu’s data shows the Switch 2 utterly dominating the Japanese hardware charts in its launch week. The top-selling software title in Japan during this period was Mario Kart World for Switch 2, selling 782,566 copies.
UK Performance: Nintendo’s Best, Overall Fourth
In the United Kingdom, the Switch 2 also achieved a significant milestone for Nintendo, recording the company’s biggest console launch in UK history. Launch week sales in the UK reportedly exceeded 160,000 units, more than doubling the original Switch’s UK debut of over 80,000 units. However, despite setting a new Nintendo record in the UK, the Switch 2’s launch week unit sales placed it fourth overall among major home console launches in that market. It trailed behind the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Xbox Series X|S in unit volume during their respective launch weeks. Notably, the Switch 2’s launch generated more revenue in the UK than the PlayStation 4’s launch did. This performance comes within the context of the UK traditionally being a relatively more challenging market for Nintendo compared to its global success.
Behind the Numbers: Demand, Projections, and Nintendo’s Strategy
The brief appearance and subsequent removal of the 5 million sales figure from Nintendo’s investor site led to its wider reporting. While the exact reason for the removal isn’t clear, it suggests the company might have intended to reveal the milestone later or through different channels. Reports indicate that demand for the console was overwhelmingly high upon launch, with some retailers limiting purchases per customer. Nintendo is said to have managed initial stock availability reasonably well to meet some of this intense demand.
Looking ahead, Nintendo appears confident in the Switch 2’s continued momentum. The company has reportedly set an internal projection of selling 15 million units of the Switch 2 within the current fiscal year. External market analysts, such as Ampere Analysis, have also issued strong forecasts, projecting over 13 million customers are expected to purchase a Switch 2 console within the calendar year 2025 alone. Doug Bowser, President of Nintendo of America, has commented on the positive reception, thanking fans for their enthusiasm and noting how users are enjoying the console’s new features.
What’s Next: The Software Pipeline
Crucial to sustaining this record-breaking start is a robust lineup of games. Nintendo has signaled a “massive software push” planned for the Switch 2 in the coming months. Several key titles have been announced with approximate release windows:
Late June: Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV (likely launching very near the console’s debut).
July: Donkey Kong Bananza, developed by the team behind Super Mario Odyssey.
August: Kirby and the Forgotten Land Switch 2 Edition.
Later in 2025: Anticipated major releases include Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Pokémon Legends Z-A (slated for October), and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment (expected before the end of the year). [Internal Link: Article about Metroid Prime 4]
These upcoming titles, particularly major exclusives like Metroid Prime 4 and Pokémon, are expected to be significant drivers of continued hardware sales and will be vital in maintaining the console’s strong trajectory beyond its initial launch period.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast did the Nintendo Switch 2 reach 5 million sales?
According to information briefly posted and then removed from Nintendo’s investor website, the Nintendo Switch 2 surpassed 5 million units sold worldwide just 26 days after its launch. This pace is remarkably fast when compared to previous consoles; the PlayStation 5 took approximately two and a half months to reach 5 million units, and the original Nintendo Switch took four months to hit that same milestone.
How do Switch 2’s launch sales compare to PS5 or the original Switch?
The Nintendo Switch 2 has significantly outpaced both the PS5 and the original Switch in terms of initial sales speed. The Switch 2 sold over 3 million units in its first 24 hours and over 3.5 million in its first four days globally. This compares favorably to the original Switch’s ~1.5 million in its first week and the PS5’s ~2.1 million in its first week (though PS5 faced supply issues). Most notably, the Switch 2 reached 5 million units in 26 days, while the PS5 took about 2.5 months and the original Switch took 4 months to hit that figure.
What were the Switch 2’s launch sales like in key regions like Japan and the UK?
The Switch 2 set new console launch records in both Japan and the UK for Nintendo. In Japan, it sold over 947,000 units in its first week, becoming the fastest-selling console debut ever in the country, surpassing the PlayStation 2. In the UK, it achieved Nintendo’s biggest launch week sales ever (>160k units), more than double the original Switch’s UK debut. However, in the UK, it ranked fourth overall behind the PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X|S in launch week units sold, though it generated higher revenue than the PS4 launch there.
The Nintendo Switch 2 has clearly burst onto the scene with a launch performance that demands attention. Reaching 5 million units globally in under a month, alongside setting specific regional records in key markets like Japan and the UK, underscores the immense initial consumer appetite for the new hardware. While the longevity of its success will ultimately depend on the quality and cadence of its game releases and maintaining sufficient supply, the Switch 2 has laid a powerful foundation, potentially marking one of the most significant console debuts in the history of the video game industry.
