Nintendo’s newest console, the Nintendo Switch 2, has reached a major sales milestone in Japan, exceeding 1.5 million units sold within its first month on the market. The system launched on June 5, and according to data provided by Famitsu to the Yomiuri Shimbun, the console has set a new benchmark as the fastest-selling gaming system in Japan’s history. The high demand has resulted in ongoing supply shortages, alongside an increase in resale activity at inflated prices.
Famitsu, known for its extensive tracking of hardware sales through a network of roughly 3,000 retail partners nationwide, reported that the Switch 2 sold a total of 1,530,826 units within its first five weeks. This figure surpasses notable previous records set by other major consoles, including the Game Boy Advance in 2001 with 1,367,434 units, the Nintendo DS in 2004 with 1,269,845 units, and Sony’s PlayStation 2 in 2000 with 1,134,862 units. In a remarkable comparison, the Switch 2 sold at nearly three times the pace of the original Nintendo Switch, which had achieved 556,633 units in its first month back in 2017.
The success of the hardware has been matched by strong software sales. Mario Kart World, bundled with the Switch 2, has already crossed one million units sold, reaching 1,185,113 copies within its first month. The game’s performance has contributed to the console’s strong market presence and reinforced Nintendo’s hybrid console strategy as it enters a new generation.
Despite this impressive momentum, supply shortages continue to affect availability. At the company’s shareholder meeting in June, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa acknowledged the issue, stating, “Demand exceeds supply in many countries. We will strive to improve production and delivery to meet this demand.”
To manage demand, Nintendo has conducted four official lottery-based purchase programs for the Switch 2, with a fifth round of applications currently open. Delivery for successful applicants is expected no earlier than September. While some retail outlets initiated limited in-store sales in late June, these opportunities have remained highly restricted, often offering only small quantities.
The shortage has fueled a surge in resale prices. On July 14, listings on the Japanese flea market app Mercari showed the Japan-exclusive model priced around 60,000 yen — about 30 percent higher than its retail price. In addition, Chinese-operated electronics buyback stores in Tokyo and Osaka have been purchasing the multilingual version of the console for around 15,000 yen above its official retail price of 69,980 yen.
Earlier this month, Nintendo had addressed confusion surrounding an earlier report of five million units sold worldwide. The company clarified that the figure, which gained attention online, was the result of test data accidentally published on its website. According to industry analyst David Gibson, Nintendo confirmed that the data was for internal testing only and did not reflect actual sales performance. Nonetheless, Gibson projected that official figures, set to be announced on August 1, may reach approximately 5.4 million units worldwide.
Initial sales of the Nintendo Switch 2 have been driven by a strong lineup of launch titles, including Mario Kart World, Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. Despite inaccuracies in website data, the early success of the Nintendo Switch 2 highlights significant market anticipation and demand for Nintendo’s latest platform.
