Nintendo Switch 2 beats PS5 to set French console sales record following strong pre-order demand

Days after the June 5th Switch 2 release date, console sales estimates are arriving. Pierre485 tracks the EU gaming market and shares how French buyers are responding to the handheld's launch. While Nintendo hasn't confirmed the numbers, he reports over 200,000 Switch 2 sales so far. The figure exceeds the PS5, which moved 107,000 units over the same period. Appetite for the new console is high globally, with similar projections in other regions.

In France, the Switch 2 launch has already led to €130 million in revenue. The country is one the largest EU markets for Nintendo, so the start bodes well for other European nations. The manufacturer's efforts to amass a generous supply of consoles to counter scalpers seem to have paid off. Unlike with the Xbox Series X, PS5, and original Switch, retailers have largely met the Switch 2 pre-order demand. Even many gamers who didn't reserve the system have found the handheld on store shelves.

Another tidbit from Pierre485's console sales summary is related to Mario Kart World. The attach rate for kart racer is 95%, meaning that an overwhelming number of Switch owners purchased the title. While the Mario Kart World Bundle is popular, other gamers bought a standalone copy.

Prior to the Switch 2 release date, some analysts expressed concerns about a weak first-party launch lineup. Follow-up titles from Nintendo, such as Donkey Kong Bananza, won't arrive until July 17th. Still, Mario Kart World, along with third-party offerings like Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, is satisfying buyers.

Nintendo Prime also reveals that globally, more than 3 million Switch 2 consoles were sold in the initial 24 hours. Significantly higher than the mark set by the PS4 and PS5, the handheld is on pace to set more records.