Nintendo has reportedly cut back on manufacturing Switch 2 consoles following weaker than expected holiday sales for the console.
That's according to Bloomberg, whose sources say Nintendo now expects to make 4 million Switch 2 units this quarter, down 33% on the 6 million it previously planned to manufacture.
Nintendo recently confirmed it had sold fewer Switch 2 consoles internationally over the holiday period than it had once hoped, particularly in the U.S. — though the impact of this had also been dulled somewhat by stronger sales in its homeland of Japan.
Speaking to shareholders last month, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa acknowledged that "domestic hardware sales volume exceeded our expectations, while overseas sales were slightly weaker than our expectations," something that had also previously been reported and discussed with IGN by video games market analysts.
"While our forecasted global hardware and software sales volume remains unchanged, the breakdown by region and product is based on different assumptions from the revised forecast announced at the time of our second-quarter financial results announcement," Furukawa added.
In Japan, Switch 2 ownership was driven by demand for new games such as Pokémon Legends: Z-A Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and the Switch 2 exclusive Kirby Air Riders. Internationally, however, Switch 2's momentum appears to have slowed somewhat due to the lack of a must-have Nintendo game similar to a Mario or Zelda blockbuster, something Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was never going to replicate.
Bloomberg's report notes the recent positive impact of Pokémon Pokopia, which has been a sales hit and provided a notable bump to Nintendo's stock price. But that game's release hasn't changed Nintendo's mind on slowing Switch 2 production, the report states — with the console maker instead keen to see how well it performs over time.
Overall, Bloomberg's report isn't a huge surprise — a company with more units sat in warehouses naturally needs fewer additional units to align with demand — and there's no suggestion Nintendo will adjust its general expectation of Switch 2 units sold for the year. Still, this peek behind the curtain will likely ruffle some Nintendo feathers, at a time when the company's share price is still recovering from its sky-high 2025 peak.
Overall, Switch 2 remains Nintendo's fastest-selling console at launch ever, with an explosive arrival propelled by the recent success of the original Switch. But all eyes will be on Nintendo now to shore up its line-up of Switch 2 games for the rest of 2026 — when fans hope they'll finally get a new 3D Mario platformer in time for Christmas.
Upcoming first-party Switch 2 games include Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park (March 26), Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream (April 16), and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book (May 21). Simply listed for 2026 are Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, Rhythm Heaven Groove and Pokémon Champions, while Splatoon Raiders has a "TBA" launch date.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
March 24, 2026 at 06:46AMhttps://assets-prd.ignimgs.com/2025/04/04/switch2-blog12-1743795370839.jpg from IGN Articles https://ift.tt/VgDa68M
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