Nintendo Dominates Switch 2 Game Sales While Others Lag Behind
The Nintendo Switch 2 breaks sales records, but it is not running round for third -party providers. Despite the 3.5 million consoles sold in just a few days, the sales figures of most non-Nintendo games remain well below expectations.
Third-party games disappoint despite console success
The Nintendo Switch 2 had a strong start and, with 3.5 million units sold in just four days, established itself as a quickest sold console of all time. But while Nintendo has every reason to celebrate, the situation for third-party developers looks significantly less rosy. Most non-nintendo games record surprisingly low sales figures, despite the enormous spread of the new console.
According to the current market data, Nintendo’s own productions dominate the Switch 2 game market with an overwhelming majority. In Great Britain, 86 percent of all physically sold games came to the launch of Nintendo itself if you include the Mario Kart World Bundle. Even without this bundle, the proportion is still 48 percent. The situation is similar in the United States: Here, Nintendo titles make up 62 percent of all physical game sales, although the bundle is not included.
An exception is CD Project Reds Cyberpunk 2077, which was the most successful third-party game on the Switch 2. As The Game Business reports, the title even exceeded the sales figures that The Witcher 3 was able to achieve when the first switch was launched. Sega positioned itself as the third largest publisher on the new Nintendo console with titles such as Sonic X Shadow Generations, Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut and Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S.
Why the third-party flop?
There are several plausible explanations for the weak sales figures. Around 80 percent of all sold Switch 2 consoles were part of the Mario Kart World Bundle, and many buyers should have acquired the racing game separately. The console is primarily bought because of the Nintendo exclusive title – a tradition that has been continuing for decades and has already been observed in the original switch. The Nintendo Switch 2 is now available in stores
In addition, almost all third-party games are ports of older titles that have already been available on other platforms. Since many Switch 2 owners also have gaming PCs, PlayStation or Xbox consoles in parallel, you may already have these games in your collection. The downward compatibility of the Switch 2 also enables playing optimized versions of popular switch 1 title, which reduces the need for new games.
Another important factor is the controversial “Game Key Card” format, in which a download is required despite physical purchase. This system encounters resistance in many Nintendo fans who traditionally prefer physical media. Cyberpunk 2077 runs directly from the Cartridge and does not require any additional download – a feature that is well received by core target groups.
Future prospects for external developers
The current situation could change over time. As soon as players Mario Kart World have “played through”, they could turn to other titles. However, with Donkey Kong Bananza and Pokémon Legends: ZA already the next Nintendo blockbusters in the starting blocks, which should further increase the pressure on third-party providers.
In the long term, however, exclusive third-party titles or particularly well-optimized ports could have a chance. Cyberpunk 2077’s success shows that there is definitely potential – provided the technical implementation is right and the game offers real added value compared to other platforms.
