Nintendo Switch 2 Faces Challenges with Third-Party Game Sales

The Nintendo Switch 2 has sold an impressive 3.5 million units, but how many games beyond Mario Kart World are you playing? And how many of those are from non-Nintendo developers?

Launch week sales data reveals a varied performance for non-Nintendo games on the Switch 2. As expected, Nintendo titles dominate on their own platform, with roughly 80% of Switch 2 consoles sold including the Mario Kart World bundle.

In addition to the bundle, Nintendo launched the Switch 2 with a compact tech demo and mini-game collection, Nintendo Switch 2: Welcome Tour, alongside enhanced versions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, available for full purchase or as upgrades. Switch 1 owners can also access their existing game libraries, which may explain the slower uptake of third-party titles.

In the UK, 86% of physical Switch 2 game sales during launch week were first-party titles, including Mario Kart World bundle copies, according to NielsenIQ data cited by The Game Business. This mirrors the 89% first-party share during the original Switch’s launch week.

In the US, third-party publishers saw better results, with 62% of physical game sales from first-party titles, per Circana data. Analyst Mat Piscatella noted this is a significant improvement over the 80%+ first-party share in the original Switch’s first month.

The top-selling non-Nintendo game on Switch 2 during its debut week was Cyberpunk 2077 by CD Projekt Red. Sega, launching Yakuza 0: Director's Cut, Sonic x Shadow Generations, and Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S, ranked as the third-largest publisher on the platform during launch week.

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According to The Game Business, one unnamed third-party publisher reported Switch 2 launch sales as “well below our lowest projections,” despite strong console sales. This is notable but unsurprising, given the dominance of Mario Kart World and the lack of pre-launch game reviews.

Another factor is the broader launch lineup: the original Switch debuted with just five physical games, while Switch 2 offers 13, likely diluting demand across titles.

Analyst Mat Piscatella emphasized that it’s too early to judge third-party performance on Switch 2 definitively, but encouraging signs are emerging.

“It’s premature to make sweeping claims about Switch 2’s success or struggles,” Piscatella noted. “The console hasn’t even been out for three weeks.”