There is growing concern about the future of the Nintendo Switch 2 in Western markets. Reports from early 2026 indicate that the console is selling below the pace set by the original Switch during its first December in the United States and Europe. With the threat of price increases affecting all gaming hardware, many are worried that the new hybrid console started strong but will struggle to maintain momentum. However, the situation looks completely different in Japan.
Recent data from the Japanese market shows a completely different story. According to reports from Kadokawa Game Linkage and Famitsu, Japan’s console game market grew by an incredible 138.8% in 2025. The total market value reached 418.13 billion yen, which is roughly $2.64 billion. These numbers are based on physical game and hardware sales recorded through the end of 2025, covering the busy Christmas shopping season.
While specific data for the Christmas period itself is not yet available, the overall picture of the Japanese console market is very strong. The Switch 2 is performing exceptionally well on Nintendo’s home turf, outpacing the sales of the original Switch 1 during its first year. It seems to be selling faster than any other console in history in Japan. The situation looks even better when we consider that these figures do not include digital sales, downloadable content, or in-game purchases.
Interestingly, the original Nintendo Switch continues to sell well despite its age and the release of the newer model. Reports state that the original Switch sold 1.52 million units in Japan during 2025. This figure puts it above the sales of the PlayStation 5 in Japan for the same year. It should be noted that other sales charts might show different numbers, but the available information clearly shows that the Japanese market strongly favors Nintendo’s hardware.
When looking at the best-selling physical games in Japan, Nintendo titles completely dominate the top spots. Mario Kart World took first place with 2.668 million units sold. Pokémon Legends: Z-A followed closely in second place with 2.534 million units. These sales figures combine sales from both the original Switch and the new Switch 2 versions of the games.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2026, the future looks bright for Nintendo in Japan. Major Japanese role-playing game series are making the jump to the new console. Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest are preparing to launch on the Switch 2 before Nintendo’s own first-party heavy hitters arrive. With these big titles on the horizon, we do not expect the market’s growth to slow down anytime soon.
