Launch week of theNintendo Switch 2has not been kind to third-party developers. Nintendo’s new console is astraight upgrade over the original Switch, with some added bells and whistles, and players seem to be flocking primarily to first-party exclusiveMario Kart World.
According toThe Game Business,sales for third-party launch titles have been very poor, with an unspecified publisher saying numbers are “below our lowest estimates.“Mario Kart World’s domination has certainly contributed; most people buy Nintendo hardware to play Nintendo games. The Switch 2’s backward compatibility, and many day-one updates to older titles, has likely kept players from purchasing new third-party games as well. There’s also the economic reality of purchasing a new console: the Nintendo Switch 2 is expensive, so consumers may be limiting their software purchases, especially in light of game prices increasing as well.
Third-Party Games Aren’t Selling Well On Switch 2
Mario Kart World Is Winning The Race
Cyberpunk 2077was the best-selling third-party gameof the Nintendo Switch 2’s launch week, but it’s unclear how well it actually did, even if it’s outpacingThe Witcher 3’s sales from its release on the original Switch. Games likeSplit Fiction,Civilization 7,Yakuza 0, andStreet Fighter 6appear to be struggling. In the United States,62% of physical game sales during the Switch 2’s launch week were from first-party games. This does not factor copies ofMario Kart Worldobtained through the console bundle, since those were digital download codes.
This means that many players have been primarily interested in the likes ofThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildandTears of the KingdomSwitch 2 Editions,Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, and perhapsPokémon Scarlet and Violetnow that they havereceived a free update.It’s also likely that a significant number of Switch 2 players opted to purchase a physical copy ofMario Kart World, despite its higher price relative to the bundled digital version.
Costs, A Lack Of New Games, & Game Keys May Be To Blame
Old Games Struggle On New Hardware
There’s no one reason for third-party titles' poor performance thus far on the Switch 2, but there are many possible contributing factors which overlap. The price of games is likely a large deterrent. As previously mentioned, the Switch 2 itself is a significant investment, andmany games are being sold at full price on the new platform. Most of the games available for the Switch 2 are also not brand new, so they can be purchased (and likely run better) on other platforms for cheaper. Even thoughCyberpunk 2077appears to be doing well, you can likely find it on sale on PC, PS5, or Xbox, where you’ll have a smoother experience with a higher resolution.
A large percentage of Switch 2 owners were probably Switch owners as well, so there are plenty of people playing the games they already own. It also doesn’t benefit many third-party games to be released on Game Key Cards, which don’t have the convenience of digital, nor the plug-and-play potential of physical. Physical collectors aren’t going to want a Game Key Card, and many others will just opt for digital since the game has to be downloaded anyway. TheNintendo Switch 2is in a bit of an odd spot at the moment without many brand-new games, but it will likely pick up steam as we get further from its launch.
Source:The Game Business
Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 is the successor to Nintendo Switch, scheduled for release in 2025. Confirmed as backwards compatible, it will play both physical and digital Nintendo Switch games. A full reveal is pencilled in for July 29, 2025.
