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Nintendo has quietly instructed its suppliers to ramp up manufacturing of the Switch 2, targeting roughly 25 million units by the end of its fiscal year in March 2026. The move signals confidence in continued consumer demand through the coming holiday season and beyond.
Big push for a big launch
According to people familiar with the matter, Nintendo originally forecast about 15 million units for the Switch 2 in its first fiscal year, but now expects sales to exceed that figure — potentially even eclipsing the original Switch’s record-setting launch. The first-generation Switch set a blistering sales pace, and Nintendo appears to be preparing for a similar or faster run this time around.
Numbers that matter
- Production target: ~25 million units by end-March 2026
- Internal sales projection: roughly 20 million units in the current fiscal year if momentum holds
- Original Switch first 13 months: 17.79 million units sold
- Switch 2 game sales reported so far: 8.67 million titles
- Back catalog sales on legacy Switch: 24.4 million titles (helped by backward compatibility)
Putting 25 million units into production gives Nintendo room to meet holiday demand and maintain inventory heading into the next fiscal year — a conservative buffer that many hardware makers favor when a product hits strong early demand.
Fast start: launch and early reception
The Switch 2 opened for pre-orders in April 2025 and launched globally on June 5, 2025. That means the new console has only been on the market for about four months, yet early indicators suggest it’s already outselling its predecessor in the U.S. during the same post-launch window — despite concerns around tariffs and supply-chain costs.
Imagine selling almost as many consoles in a shorter time than a record-breaking predecessor — that’s the scenario Nintendo seems to be betting on. If consumer interest stays strong through the holidays, the company could easily hit its internal sales targets and perhaps set a new benchmark for console rollouts.
Software sales and backward compatibility help
Nintendo’s latest financial update shows 8.67 million Switch 2-specific games sold so far, alongside 24.4 million games for the previous Switch — the latter boosted by backward compatibility and cross-generation support. That healthy software mix is an encouraging sign: hardware success often follows strong software engagement.
As the market watches the Switch 2’s trajectory, Nintendo’s production decision reflects an effort to convert early momentum into sustained market share. Will it pay off? The holiday season will tell.
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