Nintendo Switch 2 now pegged as biggest launch gaming console history

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The official unveiling of the Nintendo Switch 2 certainly stirred up excitement among gamers, but now analysts are predicting that Nintendo could have on their hands the biggest console launch in the history of video game consoles.

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It was only recently Nintendo had to announce it will be unable to meet the number of pre-orders it has taken for the Nintendo Switch 2 in Japan due to supply shortages, with the company having to come out an openly apologize to fans that have pre-ordered the console, but likely won't be receiving it on June 5. Despite efforts to minimize the number of pre-orders of the upcoming console, the 2.2 million applications have far exceeded what the company anticipated.

Following this announcement from Nintendo, Pelham Smithers of Japan-focused equity research house Pelham Smithers Associates says, Japan accounts for a third of the global Switch installation base, which implies there are approximately 6.6 million pre-orders globally.

Previous estimates stated Nintendo will be able to produce between 6 million and 8 million Nintendo Switch 2 units before June 5, which if the company is able to hit the 6 million figure, and sell them all within the first two months on the market, will make the Nintendo Switch 2 launch the biggest in console gaming history.

"We have received 2.2 million applications for the lottery sale at our official online store for customers in Japan alone, which is far larger than what we had anticipated," Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa posted on X Wednesday. "As such, we apologize that a significant number of the applicants won't be selected."

For comparison, the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 are tied for the biggest launch to date, with each system moving 4.5 million units within the first two months of being available.

"As Japan accounts for a third of the global Switch installation base, it implies 6.6 million pre-orders globally," said Pelham Smithers of Japan-focused equity research house Pelham Smithers Associates