Nintendo Direct Switch 2 game showcase earns higher viewership than Apple iPhone 17 reveal

Nintendo and Apple have massive followings, with both companies holding major events within days of each other. At least in this battle, the Japanese gaming giant may have attracted more interest. Streams Charts shows that the September 12th Nintendo Direct had a peak viewership of 2.92 million watchers. Meanwhile, the latest Apple event and iPhone 17 reveal notched 2.8 million concurrent viewers.

The recent Nintendo Direct attracted the largest audience since the April 2nd Switch 2 presentation. Overall, the stream ranked fourth in peak viewership among all Nintendo broadcasts.

Compared to other 2025 gaming events, the 60+ minute Direct finished just behind the two-hour Summer Game Fest livestream. On social media, Genki noted a heavy Japanese influence, with six percent of the country’s population tuning in.

Another factor to keep in mind is that Streams Charts doesn't measure viewership on all platforms. For the first time, Nintendo streamed a Direct on its Nintendo Today! app. Likewise, the September 9th Apple Event was also accessible on Apple apps and its website. 

With leaks predicting the date for Nintendo’s event, many gamers cleared their schedules in advance. The multifaceted showcase began by honoring the Super Mario Bros. 40th Anniversary. In reality, it could have been a show of its own, as the company unveiled a new Super Mario Galaxy compilation. The Nintendo Direct highlighted many first-party Switch 2 games. Still, the highest viewer count was during the Resident Evil Requiem release date reveal.

Viewers saw the Apple Event as more of the same

The Apple Event gave an overview of new smartphones, including the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air. Fans also got a glimpse of the AirPods Pro 3 and updated Apple Watch wearables in action. Even so, viewership lagged behind many of the company’s past shows. Unlike with Nintendo, Streams Charts speculates that leaks of the new phones detracted from hype levels.

Both Nintendo and Apple have faced criticism over a lack of innovation. For some fans, the Apple Event failed to deliver an exciting new product. Similarly, most new Switch 2 games, such as Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, are either based on existing franchises or remasters. Even so, Nintendo continues to drum up interest by combining new gameplay experiences with the same characters.