Nintendo Switch 2 Goes Wild in Japan as Buyers Rush Before Price Hike

Nearly 700,000 consoles sold in four weeks as Nintendo’s newest system races past major milestones and leaves rival platforms behind.

Nintendo’s latest console surge in Japan is starting to look less like a successful launch and more like a full-on shopping frenzy. With a price increase looming over the market, players across the country rushed to grab a Nintendo Switch 2 before the higher cost kicked in, and the result was one of the biggest hardware explosions Japan has seen in years.

The Nintendo Switch 2 sold around 247,880 units during the week of May 18 through May 24, just before the price adjustment officially began on May 25. That massive final-week push helped the console reach nearly 680,000 units sold in Japan over the past four weeks alone.

Even more impressive, the system has now climbed to roughly 5.8 million units sold in less than a year. That pace is already putting serious pressure on Sony’s PlayStation 5 in Japan, which currently sits at around 5.9 million units sold. At this rate, Nintendo’s new machine could overtake the PS5 family very soon.

The big question now is simple: what happens after the price increase?

Some analysts believe sales will cool down and stabilize around 40,000 to 50,000 units weekly until Nintendo’s next wave of blockbuster games arrives. But even with a slowdown, the momentum behind the Switch 2 feels impossible to ignore right now.

Japan’s gaming audience appears fully locked in, especially with major upcoming titles like Splatoon Raiders, Star Fox, and Fire Emblem: Fortunes Weave creating even more anticipation. And honestly, can anyone blame players for jumping in early? Nintendo’s software lineup is also helping fuel the excitement.

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book debuted with physical sales of nearly 40,000 copies, landing as the second best-selling game of the week in Japan. While those numbers are solid for a Yoshi release, digital sales were not included in the report, and according to the sources, the game is currently ranking among the top digital sellers in several regions.

Meanwhile, Tomodachi Life continued its surprising dominance at the top of the charts with more than 64,000 units sold during the week. The game has become one of Nintendo’s most reliable hits in Japan, showing that quirky life simulation games still have serious staying power.

The weekly software rankings also painted a clear picture of Nintendo’s control over the market.

Most of the top 10 games were either Switch or Switch 2 titles. Even older releases found fresh life on the platform. Tales of Arise returned with around 11,000 units sold, which is respectable for a port of an older game, while Kirby Air Riders also managed to climb back into the charts.

Hardware numbers made the situation even more dramatic. While the Switch 2 surged ahead, the original Switch family sold just over 9,500 units during the same week. The PlayStation 5 family followed closely behind at roughly 8,600 units. Both platforms were completely overshadowed by Nintendo’s newer hardware.

It is starting to feel like Japan’s gaming market has entered another Nintendo era. The excitement, the software lineup, and the rush to beat the price increase all combined into a perfect storm for the company. But now comes the real test. Once the panic buying fades and prices settle in, can the Switch 2 keep this momentum rolling, or is Nintendo saving another surprise to keep the craze alive?