Nintendo’s latest earnings update paints a picture of a company firing on all cylinders. The Kyoto-based gaming giant is so confident in the runaway success of its new console that it’s raising expectations yet again, this time by a wide margin.
After initially forecasting 15 million Switch 2 consoles sold for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, Nintendo now expects to move 19 million units, a 26.7 percent jump.
That kind of midyear forecast revision is rare for Nintendo, and it signals one thing clearly: demand for the Switch 2 has far exceeded even the company’s own optimistic projections.
In its most recent financial quarter, which ended September 30, Nintendo sold 4.54 million Switch 2 consoles, bringing total sales to 10.36 million since launch. Those are strong numbers considering the system only hit the market a few months ago.
And with the holiday season approaching, historically Nintendo’s strongest quarter, those figures could soar.
For context, the original Switch sold 17.79 million units in its first 13 months on the market. If current trends hold, the Switch 2 could surpass that milestone in less than a year. Analysts say that would make it one of Nintendo’s fastest-selling systems ever.
Hardware success is one thing, but Nintendo’s software lineup is proving equally powerful. The company raised its Switch 2 game sales forecast to 48 million units for the year, up 3 million from its earlier estimate.
It also expects combined sales of 125 million games across both the Switch and Switch 2 platforms, up from a previous projection of 105 million. That’s a significant 19 percent increase, suggesting not only strong console adoption but also deep engagement from players.
During the quarter, Nintendo sold 11.95 million Switch 2 games, with Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bonanza leading the pack. Meanwhile, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, which began shipping October 16, is poised to give Q3 sales an extra push as one of the most anticipated titles of the year.
With both console and game sales beating expectations, Nintendo’s financials were predictably strong. For the quarter ended September 30, the company reported 527.2 billion yen in revenue (about $3.7 billion USD) and 102.9 billion yen in profit, both well above analyst forecasts.
That’s a notable performance given the cyclical nature of the gaming industry, where console launches can be volatile. Nintendo’s careful supply chain planning, reports suggest it asked suppliers to build up to 25 million Switch 2 units by next March, appears to have paid off.
Nintendo’s resurgence with the Switch 2 reinforces its reputation for balancing innovation with accessibility. While competitors like Sony and Microsoft chase cutting-edge hardware specs, Nintendo continues to prioritize playability, portability, and family-friendly appeal, and the numbers show it’s working.
If the company maintains its current trajectory through the holiday season, the Switch 2 could not only outpace the original Switch but also reshape Nintendo’s long-term growth outlook.
For now, it’s clear that the sequel to one of the most successful consoles in gaming history is living up to its name — and then some.
