According to IGN, Nintendo Switch 2 has sold an astonishing 10.36 million units in just six months, continuing its streak as the biggest console launch of all time. Nintendo raised its hardware forecast for the year and now expects to sell 19 million Switch 2 units before March 2026. Mario Kart World, the flagship launch title, has sold 9.57 million copies with 8.1 million coming from console bundles. Donkey Kong Bananza follows with 3.49 million sales since July, while Super Mario Party Jamboree has moved 1.16 million units. Meanwhile, the original Switch sits at 154 million lifetime sales, just 10,000 units away from overtaking the Nintendo DS.
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Nintendo’s Unstoppable Momentum
Here’s the thing about these numbers – they’re absolutely staggering. The Switch 2 didn’t just beat the original Switch’s launch (which sold 4.7 million in its first six months), it more than doubled it. And it comfortably outpaced PlayStation 5’s 7.8 million launch too, though to be fair, Sony was dealing with serious supply constraints during the pandemic.
What’s really fascinating is how Nintendo has managed to create this perfect storm. They’ve got the hardware flying off shelves, the software attachment rates are insane, and they’re still selling millions of the original Switch seven years later. I mean, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe just sold another 1.37 million copies – who doesn’t own that game by now?
The Software Engine Driving Everything
Look at those software numbers. Mario Kart World moving 9.57 million copies means nearly every Switch 2 owner bought the game. Basically, if you bought the console, you probably bought Mario Kart too. That’s the kind of attachment rate other companies dream about.
And then there’s Pokémon Legends Z-A, which sold 5.8 million copies in its first week alone. That game launched too recently to be included in these results, but it’s already guaranteed to be a monster seller in the next earnings report. Nintendo’s first-party software strategy continues to be their secret weapon – they make games people feel they need to own.
The Original Switch’s Final Victory Lap
Now here’s an interesting subplot – the original Switch is about to pass the Nintendo DS to become Nintendo’s best-selling hardware ever. It’s literally just 10,000 units away. But can it catch the PlayStation 2’s 159 million lifetime sales? Nintendo projects it’ll hit 156 million by March 2026, so it’ll come painfully close but probably fall just short.
Still, think about that for a second. A console in its eighth year is still selling well enough to potentially become the best-selling console of all time. That’s unprecedented in this industry. Most platforms are long dead by this point, but the Switch just keeps going. It makes you wonder if Nintendo will ever truly kill it off, or if it’ll just gradually fade away as the Switch 2 takes over.
The real question is whether Nintendo can maintain this momentum. They’re facing tougher competition than ever, with Steam Deck and other handheld PCs gaining traction. But if anyone has proven they understand the handheld market, it’s Nintendo. As industry watchers have noted, they’ve basically created their own category and continue to dominate it.
