Nintendo has ruled out further Switch 2 price rises while reporting falling console sales and reduced profit.
According to Bloomberg, operating profit fell 16% to 73.9 billion yen (approx. $467 million) during the three months to September 30, off the back of a 15% decline in sales. CNBC said Nintendo sold 2.67 million Switch 2 units in the quarter, down 41% from the same period last year and down from the 3.82 million units that were sold during the first quarter of the current financial year (April to June 2026). Nintendo raised the price of Switch 2 in September, fueled by the ongoing ‘RAMpocalypse’ that has also seen Microsoft and Sony raise the price of their consoles.
Despite this, Reuters reported that Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa insisted Nintendo had enough memory to meet its forecasted Switch 2 sales of 16.5 million units for the financial year ending March 2027, and is not considering further price changes.
Nintendo launches the Ocarina of Time remake today, and investors are hoping it will boost sales of the Switch 2 during the holiday sales season. Reuters said that investors remain concerned that the memory situation, as well as a “lack of high-profile titles” for Switch 2 this year, could negatively affect the console’s momentum.
Nintendo’s financial report reveals data for the first half of the current financial year, (from April to September 2026). During that six month period, Nintendo sold 6.49 million Switch 2 units, down from the 10.36 million it sold during the same period last year.
But there’s important context to note here. Lifetime sales of the Switch 2 are now 26.35 million, which means it’s still outpacing the original Switch in terms of launch aligned sales (the first six quarters after release). It’s also worth noting that the Switch 2 enjoyed a record-breaking launch, fueled by ample stock availability, that saw it become the fastest-selling console of all time, so it was always going to be up against tough comparisons during its second year.
And countering apparent concern from investors, shares in Nintendo jumped 8.13% today following the release of the Ocarina of Time remake and the company’s financial report.
As for video game sales, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream sold 8.81 million units, Rhythm Heaven Groove sold 2.89 million units, and Splatoon Raiders sold 2.42 million units. Mario Kart World, which launched alongside the Switch 2 last year, “continued to sell steadily,” Nintendo said, shifting a further 1.78 million units during the two quarters.
Elsewhere, StarFox, released in June, sold 1.17 million units, and Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, released in September, sold 1.34 million units. The expectation is that Nintendo will have some big hitters for Switch 2 in 2027, including, fans hope, the next mainline Super Mario game. Pokémon Winds & Pokémon Waves are confirmed for next year.
“Nintendo’s only real blockbuster this fiscal year is the Ocarina Of Time remake,” Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games, told CNBC. “It’s not enough to make investors happy, especially after the device is now as expensive as it is.
“It’s getting harder and harder to sell video game hardware these days, and only hits help. Nintendo must step on the gas and deliver more big games next fiscal year to make sure the Switch 2 momentum continues.”
Wesley is IGN’s Managing Editor. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].
