A fresh hardware sales comparison tracking the Nintendo Switch 2 and the original Nintendo Switch in Japan through July 2026 shows how both consoles stack up over their respective lifecycles. Because the Nintendo Switch 2 launched in June 2025 and the original Nintendo Switch debuted in March 2017, the monthly tracking uses an aligned launch timeline.

Quick Facts

  • Switch 2 Total Sales (Japan): 6,303,665 units through July 2026.
  • Switch 1 Aligned Sales: 4,170,411 units during the same 14-month timeframe after its 2017 launch.
  • Total Lead: The Nintendo Switch 2 leads the original console by 2,133,254 units.
  • Lifetime Sales: The original Nintendo Switch has reached 37.01 million units to date in Japan, putting the Switch 2 currently 30.71 million units behind that lifetime milestone.

July 2026 marks the 14th month that the Nintendo Switch 2 has been available in Japan, which aligns with April 2018 for the original Nintendo Switch. During this latest month, the older Switch 1 model outsold the Switch 2 by 15,052 units (approximately 0.02 million units) when comparing aligned launch periods.

Despite the Switch 1 pulling ahead for the single month of July, the broader 12-month trajectory favors the newer hardware. Over the last year, the Switch 2 has outsold the original platform by 1,381,222 units, maintaining its overall 2.13 million unit lead over the first-generation console's equivalent pacing.