Sales of third-party Nintendo Switch 2 games fall flat, as gamers prefer first-party launch titles

Compared to the original console, there was more emphasis on third-party Switch 2 launch titles. Even so, sales data indicate fans still prefer games published by Nintendo. The Game Business analyzed the figures, which show how Mario Kart World dominated the competition. Third-party game makers also failed to convince buyers to purchase digital downloads over physical releases.

Launch week Circana data reveals that in the U.S., 62% of the sales of physical Switch 2 games were for first-party options. However, the statistics exclude the Mario Kart World bundle. When including that console configuration, the share of Nintendo-exclusive software jumps much higher. For example, in the U.K., 86% of physical game sales were first-party purchases.

For comparison, the Switch launch month saw 81% of U.S. and 89% of U.K. buyers opting for Nintendo games. Despite a much larger selection of third-party Switch 2 games, players hesitated to explore these titles. In his article, Christopher Dring describes how an unnamed publisher admitted sales fell short of expectations.

Dring suggests that Nintendo's delay of reviews until after the Switch 2 release date was a factor. Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition led third-party sales, but other publishers struggled for media attention. Also, most non-Nintendo titles were ports that many Switch 2 buyers may have already played.

80% of initial Switch 2 game sales were at physical retailers rather than digital downloads. Consumers likely also rejected the Game-Key Card option. CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077 is an exception, but most third-party publishers favor the format.

As more high-profile releases appear day one on the Switch 2, gamers may appreciate the diversity. Still, for now, these fans are primarily buying the handheld to enjoy Nintendo games in cartridge form.