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Nintendo reported a 132% surge in quarterly revenue on Friday, powered by the blockbuster launch of its Switch 2 console, which has become the fastest-selling gaming device in industry history.
The Japanese gaming giant said net sales jumped to 572 billion yen ($3.8 billion) in the April-June quarter, more than doubling from the same period last year. Net profit rose 19% year-over-year.
The Switch 2, launched in June at $449.99, shattered previous console records by selling 3.5 million units in its first four days on the market. Nintendo said Friday the device has now sold approximately 5.8 million units in its debut month.
"Net sales increased significantly in the first quarter, due mainly to the launch of Nintendo Switch 2," the company said in its earnings report.
The console's arrival generated intense consumer excitement, with pre-orders selling out rapidly and retailers organizing midnight launch events to meet demand from eager gamers.
The new device maintains the hybrid concept that made its predecessor successful, allowing users to play either as a portable handheld system or connected to a television. However, the Switch 2 features a larger screen, enhanced processing capabilities, and innovative controllers that can function as computer mice.
Nintendo has maintained its sales forecast of 15 million Switch 2 units by March 2026, a target the company left unchanged despite the strong early performance.
Gaming industry analyst Serkan Toto said the Switch 2's performance has exceeded industry projections. "The launch of Switch 2 has surpassed many people's expectations," Toto told Agence France-Presse (AFP), adding that it will be difficult for competing consoles to match such a strong market debut.
Toto suggested Nintendo's timing benefits from the delayed release of "Grand Theft Auto VI," which publisher Rockstar Games pushed from 2025 to May 2026. "If GTA6 launched this year, it would have sucked almost all the oxygen out of the room and made marketing Switch 2 definitely harder for Nintendo," he said.
The original Switch, released in 2017, became a cultural phenomenon during the pandemic with popular titles like "Animal Crossing." The device has sold 152 million units to date, ranking as the third best-selling console in gaming history behind Sony's PlayStation 2 and Nintendo's own DS system.
The analyst predicted Nintendo can maintain strong momentum through the holiday season and into 2026, though he noted the company will face challenges ensuring a steady pipeline of popular game titles. While Nintendo has expanded into movies and theme parks in recent years, console hardware and gaming software remain the foundation of its business model.
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