Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • GTA 6 cover art revealed
  • Summer Preview
  • Prime Day deals
  • Best gaming tech
  • New Games 2026
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Hardware
  2. Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch 2 will need big growth outside the US and Japan to do as well as Switch 1, says veteran analyst: "There have to be some surprises"

News
By Iain Harris published 21 January 2025

The original Nintendo Switch casts a long shadow

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Mario Kart running on Nintendo Switch 2
(Image credit: Nintendo)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

A leading games industry analyst says that if the Nintendo Switch 2 wants to match or exceed its beloved predecessor, "there have to be some surprises, and a little luck sure wouldn't hurt as well."

Now that the Switch 2 feels more real after an official reveal, some chatter has turned to how well we can expect it to do compared to the original Switch. After all, it's not something the Wii U quite managed to do when following the Wii.

According to a Bloomberg report, Nintendo is ready to shift 20 million units within the Switch 2's first year, which would eclipse the 15 million units that the Switch managed. While analysts agree that the Switch 2 could sell that many units, going on to match Switch's success in the long term is a rather tall order. That's not to say the Switch 2 won't be a success – it's likely it will be – it's more that the Switch is up on the Mount Rushmore of console MVPs like the PS2.

Latest Videos From
Watch full video here:

If the Switch 2 was to pull that off, however, what would that look like? As per one analyst who spoke to GamesRadar+, "some surprises" to help it leave a big mark on countries the Switch managed would certainly help.

"Growth in countries and regions where Switch did not have as large a presence as in, say, Japan or the US is very important," Circana analyst Mat Piscatella says. "A strong first-party content slate is critical, and additional 3rd party support sure wouldn't hurt (although folks generally buy Nintendo hardware to play Nintendo games).

You may like
  • Photo by Rosalie Newcombe of a Kirby toy sitting in-front of a Switch 2 that's running Kirby and the Forgotten Land. A Nintendo Switch 2 price hike "could be likely" after PS5 increases, game analysts suggest
  • Switch 2 with Donkey Kong Bananza art on screen on wood pattern table next to accessories. Switch 2 prices will go up, says ex-Nintendo sales lead: "It's inevitable"
  • Hand holding Nintendo Switch 2 console with red backdrop. Nintendo reportedly cutting Switch 2 console production by a third after not hitting expected sales over the holidays

"But to match or exceed the success of Switch, there have to be some surprises, and a little luck sure wouldn't hurt as well."

It's all but confirmed that a new Mario Kart game is coming, which is certainly a start. However, we'll have to wait for a special Nintendo Switch 2 Direct in April to find out more. Hopefully, some surprises lie ahead.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

When will Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders go live? Here's everything you need to know ahead of April.

CATEGORIES
Nintendo Switch 2 Platforms Nintendo
Iain Harris
Iain Harris
Social Links Navigation
News Editor, Games

I joined GamesRadar+ in May 2022 following stints at PCGamesN and PocketGamer.Biz, with some freelance for Kotaku UK, RockPaperShotgun, and VG24/7 thrown in for good measure. When I'm not running the news team on the games side, you'll find me putting News Editor duties to one side to play the hottest JRPG of 20 years ago or pillaging the depths of Final Fantasy 14 for a swanky new cloak – the more colourful, the better.

Read more
Photo by Rosalie Newcombe of a Kirby toy sitting in-front of a Switch 2 that's running Kirby and the Forgotten Land.
Hardware A Nintendo Switch 2 price hike "could be likely" after PS5 increases, game analysts suggest
 
 
Switch 2 with Donkey Kong Bananza art on screen on wood pattern table next to accessories.
Nintendo Switch 2 Switch 2 prices will go up, says ex-Nintendo sales lead: "It's inevitable"
 
 
Hand holding Nintendo Switch 2 console with red backdrop.
Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo reportedly cutting Switch 2 console production by a third after not hitting expected sales over the holidays
 
 
Switch 2 with Donkey Kong Bananza art on screen on wood pattern table next to accessories.
Hardware Nintendo fights Switch 2 scalpers in Japan with new restrictions
 
 
Upcoming Switch 2 games 2026: four images featuring The DuskBloods, Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
Nintendo Switch 2 Upcoming Switch 2 games: New Nintendo Switch 2 games for 2026 and beyond
 
 
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
RPGs Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 still coming to Switch 2 in 2026, says leaker who called Ocarina of Time
 
 
Latest in Hardware
An MSI MAG Tomahawk motherboard and Corsair Vengeance DDR5 RAM on a separated Green background
Desktop PCs A ray of hope for PC builders desperate for an upgrade - one of my favorite motherboards is being bundled with 32GB of DDR5 RAM at Newegg
 
 
Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos in GTA 6 artwork with Steam Machines for heads and sad text faces on front.
Hardware The Steam Machine and GTA 6 pre-orders may happen at the same time, but it won't be on Valve's box
 
 
A series of Nintendo Switch 2 cases on a pink GamesRadar+ background.
Accessories From Hori to Hello Kitty - these are some of my favorite Switch 2 cases available for your Nintendo handheld
 
 
Hand holding Super Pocket with Banjo-Kazooie gameplay on screen.
Retro I know you want the Banjo-Kazooie handheld, but there's another Super Pocket to watch over Prime Day
 
 
Official marketing image of the SanDisk Optimus GX PRO 850P NVMe SSD.
SSDs and Hard Drives SanDisk has launched a new 8TB PS5 SSD, and its price is just as eye-watering as you'd expect
 
 
LG UltraGear Dual-mode monitor with Doom: The Dark Ages gameplay on screen.
TVs & Monitors Dual-mode monitors have changed the way I PC game, and they could save you from buying twice
 
 
Latest in News
Nathan Drake in Uncharted 4.
Games PlayStation CEO seemingly confirms big single-player games will be PS5 exclusives forever
 
 
Persona 6 title art white text
Persona Persona 6 appears on Steam, Atlus and Sega accidentally say something interesting for once
 
 
Slay the Spire 2
Roguelike Games Slay the Spire 2 lies about its RNG, rabid fan declares in 6,600-word essay
 
 
GTA 6 key art showing Jason and Lucia against a sunwashed Vice City backdrop
Grand Theft Auto GTA 6 cover art continues a 25-year-old Rockstar tradition
 
 
Pokemon Chaos Rising card and booster pack laid out on a dark background
Tabletop Gaming Pokemon card fans seem to agree that card grading culture sucks and makes the hobby "a lot less enjoyable"
 
 
Sonic Frontiers
Sonic the Hedgehog Sonic actor doesn't know what's next for the game series
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Nathan Drake in Uncharted 4.
    1
    PlayStation CEO seemingly confirms big single-player games will be PS5 exclusives forever
  2. 2
    Persona 6 appears on Steam, Atlus and Sega accidentally say something interesting for once
  3. 3
    Does Toy Story 5 have a post-credits scene?
  4. 4
    The 6 best new shows and movies streaming this week on Netflix, HBO Max, Disney Plus, and more (June 19-21)
  5. 5
    Alien Isolation 2 leads want better tech and more space to sear the horror sequel into your memory

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...