Nintendo Switch 2 console sales trail PS5 in one EU nation, with third-party games struggling

Since its June 5th release date, Switch 2 sales have dominated the industry. However, there are indications that the PS5 may be overtaking the handheld in one country. A new Vandal Radio podcast revealed that over the past six weeks, the PlayStation console has outsold its Nintendo rival in Spain. Also, the adoption of third-party Switch 2 games lags behind their PS5 counterparts.

The Vandal podcasters often share retail data in the gaming industry. Discovered on the ResetEra forums, at around the 30-minute mark, they made a surprising comparison. After discussing how the PS5 once again topped the console charts, the panel then addressed physical game sales.

Translated from Spanish, one guest explained, “I also don't think Nintendo is super happy with games that aren't theirs. Third-party games, aside from Cyberpunk, not much else is really performing well”.  To add context, the recently launched Cronos: The New Dawn sold 300 copies in its first week on the Switch 2. Meanwhile, PS5 buyers purchased 2,800 units of the survival horror game. Ports like Star Wars: Outlaws and Daemon x Machina also sold only 600 and 700 copies, respectively, during their first seven days.

Switch 2 sales in Spain compared to the rest of world

The Spanish Switch 2 sales figures are surprisingly low when considering worldwide trends. VGChartz reported that Nintendo’s handheld sold 1,594,817 units in July, more than doubling the PS5’s mark of 787,722. The Switch 2 also set records in Spain for the most successful console launch, with similar stories throughout the EU.

PlayStation systems have a strong foothold in Spain, and there aren’t yet as many potential buyers for Switch 2 games. Still, the reluctance to purchase third-party titles could be slowing down sales for the handheld. Many games use controversial Game-Key Cards, which require large downloads. Mixed pre-release impressions of how titles like Star Wars Outlaws perform on the console could also have deterred buyers.

Any setback for Nintendo in Spain may only be temporary. The company will debut a series of anticipated first-party Switch 2 games during the holiday season. Also, as one of the most successful franchises in Europe, EA Sports FC 26 arrives on the console on September 26th.