Switch 2 vs Switch 1 Sales Comparison in Japan - February 2026 - Sales
by William D'Angelo , posted on 15 March 2026 / 7,405 Views
The VGChartz sales comparison series of articles are updated monthly and each one focuses on a different sales comparison using our estimated video game hardware figures. The charts include comparisons between the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, as well as with older platforms. There are articles based on our worldwide estimates, as well as the US, Europe, and Japan.
This monthly series compares the aligned Japanese sales of the Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch 1.
The Nintendo Switch 2 launched in June 2025 in Japan and the Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017. Therefore, the normal holiday periods and the Japanese Golden Week holiday for the two consoles do not lineup.
Switch 2 Vs. Switch 1 Japan:
Gap change in latest month: 93,139 - Switch 1
Total Lead: 2,300,727 - Switch 2
Switch 2 Total Sales: 4,701,776
Switch 1 Total Sales: 2,401,049
February 2026 is the 9th month that the Nintendo Switch 2 has been available for in Japan. During the latest month, the Switch 1 has outsold the Switch 2 by 0.09 million units when you align the launches. The Switch 2 is ahead of the Switch 1 by 2.30 million units.
The 9th month for the Switch 2 is February 2026, while for the Switch 1 it is November 2017. The Switch 2 has sold 4.470million units, while the Switch 1 sold 2.40 million units during the same timeframe.
The Nintendo Switch 1 has sold 36.66 million units to date. The Switch 2 is currently 31.96 million units behind the lifetime sales of the Switch 1.
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can follow the author on Bluesky.
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NS2 is really leaving NS1 in the dust. With how things are going with Pokopia and knowing how lackluster (by Nintendo standards) Switch 1 performed during early-2018, NS2 has potential to really create a big gap here. Especially with Tomodachi Life and Splatoon Raiders on the horizon.
(I wonder why Nintendo has gone so aggressive in pushing toward the JP market this generation? MKWorld, Kirby Air Riders, Pokémon Z-A, Pokopia, Tomodachi Life, Fire Emblem, Splatoon Raiders... that is a comically packed lineup in JP for the first 12-16 months of a system lol. Only a matter of time before Pikmin 5 hits.)
Might have to do with their decision to sell the Japan-only model ? Since they're not gonna make a lot of profits with hardware there, they might as well make sure they're selling a lot of games and so releasing appealing IPs for Japan
Certainly a factor!
You won't see me complaining, as long as those games come to the U.S. I love Japanese video games.
The market has spoken..
Even with Pokopia this lead will diminish next month since we are arriving in december of 2017 for the Switch. However, after that, I see the lead keeping steady for the foreseeable future.
