Nintendo still values Switch 1 games despite Switch 2’s arrival

Nintendo recently announced the launch of the Switch 2, but the company remains committed to selling games for the original Nintendo Switch. During a recent financial report, president Shuntaro Furukawa emphasized the importance of driving sales of Switch 1 games, despite the new console being available.

Focus on software expansion

Furukawa said Nintendo needs to focus on expanding its overall software business, including titles for both the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2. This strategy helps avoid putting all the emphasis on software sales for Switch 2 alone. That is especially relevant now that sales of Mario Kart World, a Switch 2 exclusive, have slowed after the hardware bundle that included the game was discontinued.

Sales targets for the fiscal year

Nintendo has set a sales target of 60 million games for the current fiscal year, which ends on 31 March 2027. The company noted that this figure is lower than some analysts expected because it does not include bundled Switch 2 software. The target was set to stay close to the combined software sales of both the Switch and Switch 2 in the previous fiscal year, excluding bundled software.

Sales figures and trends

So far, Nintendo has sold 48.71 million games for the Switch 2, with Mario Kart World leading the way at 14.7 million units. On the original Switch, more than 1.528 billion games have been sold, with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe still the top seller at more than 71 million units. Over the past 14 days, the social simulation game Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream has sold 3.8 million copies, 60% of them on the original Switch.

Upcoming releases

The next major Switch 2 release is Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, due out on 21 May, followed by Star Fox on 25 June and Splatoon Raiders on 23 July. All of these titles are exclusive to Switch 2. This shows Nintendo is continuing to develop high-profile games for the new system while still investing in its existing base of Switch 1 players.

Nintendo’s strategy shows a balance between supporting its older hardware and maximizing opportunities for the newer generation of consoles. With new releases and a sales focus across both systems, Nintendo appears well positioned for the year ahead.