Another Unstoppable Success: Nintendo Switch 2 Passes New Sales Milestone

Just two months after its highly-anticipated global launch, the Nintendo Switch 2 has already established itself as a commercial juggernaut, surpassing a new sales milestone in the United States. According to the latest data from the NPD Group for the month of July, the new console is tracking far ahead of its predecessor’s performance in a similar timeframe. This news, while not entirely surprising given the console’s incredible launch, is a significant indicator of its continued momentum and cements its position as a major force in the console market, setting the stage for a dominant holiday season.

The Nintendo Switch 2 was officially released on June 5, 2025, and wasted no time in breaking records. Within just four days of its release, the hybrid console had already sold over 3.5 million units worldwide, making it the fastest-selling Nintendo hardware in history. The console’s success is a testament to Nintendo’s long-term vision, which began with the development of the Switch 2 back in 2019. This six-year journey has culminated in a device that addresses many of the criticisms of the original Switch while retaining its core hybrid identity.

The Numbers Don’t Lie: A Historic Sales Trajectory

While the exact number of units sold in the United States in July has not been publicly disclosed, industry analyst Mat Piscatella of Circana (formerly NPD Group) confirmed that the Switch 2 is “tracking far ahead” of the original Switch’s initial sales in the same period. This trend is a clear sign that the console is resonating with a massive audience, including both early adopters and consumers who were waiting for the new, more powerful model. The impressive sales are being driven by a combination of factors, including the console’s upgraded hardware, a strong launch lineup of first-party titles, and the crucial feature of backward compatibility with most original Switch games.

Key hardware improvements that are helping to drive sales include:

• Upgraded Performance: The Switch 2 boasts a custom Nvidia Ampere-based processor, offering a significant boost in both CPU and GPU power. The GPU has 1,536 CUDA cores compared to the original’s 256, and the console supports features like DLSS and real-time ray tracing, allowing for more visually impressive games.
• A New Display: The new 7.9-inch LCD screen offers a crisp 1080p resolution and a 120Hz variable refresh rate in handheld mode. This is a massive upgrade from the original’s 720p display and a major selling point for players who primarily use the console in its portable mode.
• Increased Storage and RAM: With 256GB of internal storage and 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, the Switch 2 offers much more space for games and improved performance for developers.
• Backward Compatibility: The ability to play most of your existing Switch game library on the new console is a huge incentive for owners of the original device to upgrade.

The Future of the Switch 2’s Game Library

Despite the glowing sales numbers, the Switch 2’s launch hasn’t been without its challenges. There are reports from developers at Gamescom 2025 that many studios, including some major AAA developers, are still struggling to get their hands on Switch 2 development kits. This has led to a situation where some developers are being told to simply rely on the new console’s backward compatibility rather than creating a dedicated Switch 2 version of their games. This scarcity of dev kits, while a point of concern, is likely a temporary issue as Nintendo ramps up its production and distribution pipeline.

However, the lack of widespread developer support at launch hasn’t stopped the console from having a strong game lineup. The success of first-party titles like Mario Kart World, which was bundled with the console and has already sold over 5.63 million copies, has been a key factor. Additionally, the console has seen the release of major third-party games, including Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition and Borderlands 4, demonstrating that the new hardware is capable of running graphically demanding games. The upcoming release of Hollow Knight: Silksong and the highly-anticipated Metroid Prime 4: Beyond are also expected to fuel the console’s sales in the coming months.

In conclusion, the Nintendo Switch 2 is proving that Nintendo’s unique approach to hardware and its steadfast dedication to a hybrid console philosophy are still a winning combination. The new sales milestone is a clear signal that the console is poised for a long and successful life cycle, and with more games on the way and a steady stream of first-party support, it’s clear that the Switch 2’s unstoppable momentum is far from over.