Nintendo has raised its full-year sales forecast for the Switch 2 gaming console to 19 million units for the fiscal year ending March 2026, up from its earlier projection of 15 million units.
The Kyoto-based company also increased its operating profit forecast by 16%, now expecting to earn 370 billion yen ($2.45 billion) for the year, reflecting stronger-than-anticipated demand and steady post-launch momentum.
Since its global release in June, the Switch 2 — the successor to the immensely popular hybrid home-portable Switch — has generated significant consumer interest despite industry-wide supply chain challenges.
As of the end of September, Nintendo has sold 10.3 million units, driven largely by strong performances from key titles such as Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bonanza.
Nintendo’s first-half operating profit ratio stood at 13.2%, down from 23.2% a year earlier, as higher development and launch-related costs weighed on margins.
However, the company expects profitability to recover as production scales up and the upcoming holiday season boosts software and hardware sales. Investors are closely watching whether the company can maintain momentum into the critical year-end period, traditionally its strongest sales window.
President Shuntaro Furukawa emphasized confidence in the console’s continued success, noting that “the first holiday shopping season will be a key proving ground and we are maintaining good momentum towards that.” Upcoming releases, including Pokemon Legends: Z-A and Kirby Air Riders, are expected to further underpin demand.
Nintendo shares closed down 0.8% on Tuesday ahead of the earnings announcement but remain up around 40% year-to-date, reflecting optimism surrounding the Switch 2’s market performance and the company’s ability to navigate competitive and logistical challenges in the global gaming industry.
