According to Kotaku, Nintendo revealed the Switch 2 has sold over 10 million units already, making it the fastest-selling console launch ever. President Shuntaro Furukawa told investors the company is shifting its “primary development focus” to Switch 2 while continuing Switch 1 production. The breakdown shows 84% of Switch 2 buyers previously owned a Switch 1, with sales evenly split across all adoption periods. Nintendo also confirmed a Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel for 2026 and live-action Zelda adaptation for 2027, with two additional movie slots planned. The company has $13 billion in cash reserves and is actively acquiring development studios while securing more development time for games like Metroid Prime 4.
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Nintendo Shifts Gears
This is a pretty dramatic pivot from Nintendo’s usual playbook. They’re basically telling investors “we’re done with the old thing” while still selling millions of the old thing. Smart move. The fact that they’re not killing Switch 1 production shows they understand the value of that massive install base – but the writing is on the wall for new first-party games.
Here’s the thing: this contrasts sharply with how Sony handled the PS4 to PS5 transition. God of War Ragnarok launched on both systems. Nintendo seems ready to cut the cord much faster. That might frustrate some Switch 1 owners, but it’s probably the right business move if they want the Switch 2 to truly take off.
Third-Party Revolution
Nintendo calling this their “largest third-party software lineup ever” is huge. Remember the Wii U? That thing was a third-party ghost town. Getting Cyberpunk 2077 and day-one Resident Evil releases represents a fundamental shift in strategy.
They’re finally playing nice with the big publishers, and it’s paying off. Having actual modern AAA games instead of years-late ports changes the entire value proposition. This isn’t your grandma’s Nintendo console anymore.
Hollywood Calling
The movie pipeline is fascinating. After the Mario movie made a billion dollars, Nintendo’s going all-in on cinematic universes. Zelda in 2027, another Mario in 2026, and two mystery slots? They’re basically building their own mini-Marvel Studios.
Think about it – they’ve got decades of beloved characters sitting around. Donkey Kong is almost certainly one of those question marks. Maybe we’ll see Kirby or Metroid get the big-screen treatment too. This could become a massive revenue stream that makes them less dependent on the volatile hardware cycle.
What It Means For Gamers
If you’re still rocking a Switch 1, don’t panic. Nintendo will keep making them and third parties will support it for years. But the big Nintendo games? They’re probably Switch 2-bound from here on out.
The even sales split among Switch 1 adopters is the most interesting stat to me. It means this isn’t just the hardcore early adopters upgrading – people who bought Switches throughout its entire lifecycle are making the jump. That suggests the value proposition is working across the board.
Nintendo’s sitting on that $13 billion war chest and talking about acquisitions. Who might they buy? More importantly, they’re finally giving games like Metroid Prime 4 the time they need. After that investor presentation, one thing’s clear: Nintendo isn’t playing it safe anymore.
