Nintendo Switch 2 is off to a strong start, with 3.5 million consoles sold. But outside of playing Mario Kart World, have you bought many other games? And how many of those weren’t made by Nintendo?
Analysis has begun on the console’s launch week sales figures, and it paints a mixed picture of how non-Nintendo software has fared. Of course, Nintendo games are always the prime attraction on Nintendo hardware — and around 80 percent of Switch 2 consoles sold so far have been the console’s bundle option with Mario Kart World packed in.
Beyond that, Nintendo launched its new platform with bitesize tech demo/mini-game collection Nintendo Switch 2: Welcome Tour to sample, plus The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom’s Switch 2 Editions you can buy outright or buy upgrades for. And, of course, Switch 1 owners have access to their full back catalogues to continue playing. So perhaps it’s not a huge surprise that third-party Switch 2 software hasn’t dominated more.
In the UK, 86% of Switch 2 physical game sales during launch week were first-party titles. This includes copies of Mario Kart World sold as part of the Switch 2 console bundle, according to NielsenIQ numbers reported by The Game Business. This is roughly equivalent to the 89% first-party physical game sales seen in the UK during Switch 1’s launch week.
In the US, third-party publishers saw a slightly rosier picture, with 62% of Switch 2 physical game sales during launch week from first-party titles, per figures from Circana. According to industry analyst Mat Piscatella, that compares to a figure above 80% for the first month of Switch 1.
The best selling non-Nintendo game on Switch 2 during its first week on sale was Cyberpunk 2077, from CD Projekt Red. Sega, which launched Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut, Sonic x Shadow Generations and Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S, was the platform’s third biggest publisher during launch week, meanwhile.
The Game Business states that one unnamed third-party publisher described their Switch 2 launch sales as ‘below our lowest estimates’, despite Nintendo’s console hardware selling well. It’s an eye-catching quote, but up against Mario Kart World, and with no pre-launch Switch 2 reviews for any games, it’s perhaps not too surprising.
And another factor to be considered is that the original Switch launched with just five physical games, whereas Switch 2 has 13 available to buy, likely spreading demand.
Ultimately, Piscatella wrote, solid results on how Switch 2 is performing for third-party publishers will come — but for now, it is still too soon to tell.
“It’s far too early to claim best or worst this or that or whatever when it comes to Switch 2,” Piscatella concluded. “Sheesh, the thing hasn’t even been out 3 weeks yet.”
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
