Nintendo Switch 2 Sets New U.S. Record as Fastest-Selling Console Ever

Image Credit: Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo’s Switch 2 has now become the fastest-selling video game hardware device in U.S. history, surpassing the previous record set by the PlayStation 4 more than a decade ago.

According to data from Circana's analyst Mat Piscatella, Switch 2 sold 1.6 million units in the U.S. during its launch month of June. That’s a notable jump from the 1.1 million units the PS4 sold in its launch month back in November 2013. With this, Nintendo has firmly taken the crown for the most successful hardware debut ever in the U.S. market.

Unsurprisingly, the Switch 2 also topped both unit and dollar sales for the month, making it June’s best-selling console across the board.

The console’s performance isn’t just about strong numbers either — it's also about software. An impressive 82% of Switch 2 buyers in the U.S. picked up Mario Kart World, either through a standalone purchase or bundled with the console. This indicates that the game attracted more than 1.3 million players in the United States.

What makes this launch even more remarkable is that it happened despite a number of early hurdles in the U.S. market. Leading up to the release, Nintendo delayed pre-orders due to concerns over tariffs, and prices for accessories were increased as a result. Some retailers even canceled pre-orders outright, creating some uncertainty around how the launch might play out. But clearly, the demand was strong enough to push through all of that.

In fact, the Switch 2 launch gave a significant boost to the broader gaming market. U.S. hardware spending in June skyrocketed by 249% year-over-year, reaching $978 million — the highest June total ever recorded, surpassing the previous $608 million high from 2008.

Spending on accessories also hit a new peak at $293 million, up from the previous record of $247 million in June 2021.

While it's still too early to say whether the Switch 2 will surpass the original Switch’s lifetime total of 150.86 million units, this launch sets a solid foundation. Earlier in July, Nintendo confirmed that the Switch 2 had already sold 3.5 million units worldwide within its first four days — making it not just a strong U.S. launch, but a global phenomenon.

With more big titles like Donkey Kong Bananza launched last week and Pokémon Legends ZA set for release later this year, Nintendo is clearly gearing up for a strong push through the holiday season and beyond.