A massive software library led by Mario Kart World and Pokémon Pokopia pushed the Nintendo Switch 2 to nearly 20 million units sold.
By Jon Scarr
Nintendo’s first year with the Nintendo Switch 2 is officially in the books, and it’s clear that the hardware hasn't hit any sophomore slumps early on. By the end of the fiscal year on March 31, 2026, the Nintendo Switch 2 reached 19.86 million units sold globally since its launch last June. This isn't just a case of early adopters grabbing everything on the shelf either. The install base is growing at a rate that suggests Nintendo has avoided the pitfalls of its past hardware transitions.
The late surge was driven almost entirely by the release of Pokémon Pokopia in March, which Nintendo says was a massive system seller for the end of the year. I’ve spent enough time in Pokopia’s cozy world to understand why people were willing to drop the cash for new hardware just to get in. When you pair that with Mario Kart World moving over 14 million units, it’s obvious that the big games are doing the hard work.
Mario Kart World Moves Massive Software Numbers
If you own a Nintendo Switch 2, there’s a massive chance you’re already drift-boosting through Mario Kart World. The game reached 14.70 million units sold in less than a year. It’s the kind of attach rate that makes other publishers lose sleep. We also saw Donkey Kong Bananza put up a respectable 4.52 million units after its July launch, proving that the big ape still has plenty of fans.
What’s even more interesting is how Pokémon Legends: Z-A is playing both sides of the fence. The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition moved 3.94 million units. The original Nintendo Switch version is still a beast with 8.85 million units sold. We are all moving to the new hardware, but the older community isn't getting left behind just yet. If you're still playing the older games, don't worry about the upgrade path; the Nintendo Switch 2's backwards compatibility handles your library without a hitch.
Original Nintendo Switch Stays Strong in Year Ten
You’d think a console entering its tenth year would be ready for the retirement home, but the original Nintendo Switch is still moving 3.80 million hardware units. A lot of that comes down to the software ecosystem and the fact that you can bring your older games over to the Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo noted that games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Animal Crossing: New Horizons are still selling well as people bring their libraries over to the Nintendo Switch 2.
The October releases of Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 also gave the old hardware a massive shot in the arm. These games sold 2.60 million and 2.76 million units respectively. Even with the shiny new Nintendo Switch 2 taking the spotlight, Nintendo is still making a killing on the digital side. Those sales spiked 25% to 407.6 billion yen. It’s a good time to be a Nintendo fan, whether you’ve upgraded or you're still rocking the OG handheld.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Closes a Strong Opening Act
Closing out its first fiscal year with nearly 20 million units is a win no matter how you look at it. The push from Pokémon Pokopia and the absolute dominance of Mario Kart World suggest that the Nintendo Switch 2 is here for the long haul. IP business revenue dropped about 9% because we didn't have a new movie this year. Even so, the core gaming business is looking incredibly healthy. I'm curious to see what the next year brings now that the install base is established.
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