Nintendo Q1 FY2026: Switch 2 hits 23.68M units, digital sales up 90%, physical still 38.5% of software

Nintendo's Q1 fiscal 2026 earnings report — covering April through June 2026 — paints a strong picture for the Switch 2 in its second year on the market. The console added 3.82 million units in the quarter alone, bringing its lifetime total to 23.68 million. Digital sales revenue hit 132.7 billion yen (roughly $837 million), up 90% year-over-year, driven mainly by downloadable versions of packaged software.

On the software side, Switch 2 titles moved 9.46 million units in the quarter. Mario Kart World remains the platform's runaway bestseller at 15.39 million lifetime units. Donkey Kong Bananza sits at 4.78 million, Pokemon Legends: Z-A – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition at 3.99 million, and Pokemon Pokopia at 3.68 million. Kirby Air Riders has reached 1.90 million, while Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition stands at 1.15 million. Nintendo noted that Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, Star Fox, and Pokemon Pokopia "sold well" without giving exact breakdowns. On the original Switch side, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream reached 7.94 million units. Nintendo also updated its all-time Switch bestseller list: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe leads at 71.53 million copies, followed by Animal Crossing: New Horizons at 50.29 million, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at 38.14 million, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild at 34.06 million, and Super Mario Odyssey at 30.80 million.

The physical vs. digital split is worth noting given the broader industry conversation. Nintendo confirmed that 61.5% of its software sales are now digital, with physical still accounting for 38.5% — a ratio that shifted 2.2 points toward digital compared to last year. That stands in sharp contrast to Capcom, which reported roughly 90% digital sales, and to Sony, which announced it will stop manufacturing PS5 game discs from January 2028. Nintendo has been nudging players toward digital by pricing downloadable Switch 2 games around $10 cheaper than their boxed counterparts, but the company has not signaled any plans to abandon physical media. Its hybrid approach — standard cartridges, Game-Key Cards, and digital codes in a box — reflects a broad audience that includes younger and more casual players who still buy physical games.

Nintendo says it is not revising its financial forecast for the fiscal year, citing continued strong momentum. Upcoming releases include Splatoon Raiders (already out in July), Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave on September 17, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort on October 22, and a Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake before year's end. Looking further ahead, Xenoblade Genesis, Pokemon Winds, and Pokemon Waves are already confirmed for 2027.