Nintendo Switch 2: First Three Months — Analysis of the New Generation's Launch

Nintendo Switch 2 launched in March 2026. After the first three months, we have enough data to assess the platform's real start: sales, game lineup, and launch missteps.

Author: Аналитика MBG •

Nintendo Switch 2 launched March 20, 2026 at $449. First two months saw 4.2 million units sold — slightly below the original Switch (4.7M in the same period), but significantly above Switch Lite. A confident start, but not an unqualified triumph.

What Worked

Mario Kart World was the killer launch window title: 3.1 million copies in six weeks. Backward compatibility with most Switch 1 cartridges was a key purchase driver — 78% of NS2 buyers already owned an original Switch, per Nintendo's surveys.

Launch Issues

Joy-Con Connect (the new wireless connection technology) is unstable with third-party USB-C hubs. Nintendo released firmware patch 1.3.0 in April, but the issue persists partially. The exclusive lineup is thin: beyond Mario Kart World, no major launch-window titles arrive until September.

Ecosystem and Future

Nintendo Online Expansion Pack becoming mandatory for Switch 2-exclusive features drew criticism. September brings Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, November brings a new Zelda. If both titles hit, Switch 2 will consolidate its position by end of 2026.