Third-party titles for the Nintendo Switch 2 have reportedly struggled to meet expectations during the console’s launch period. According to a developer’s feedback shared with The Game Business, sales figures were "below our lowest estimates," indicating a less-than-stellar reception for these games within the initial weeks of the Switch 2’s release.
Despite a promising lineup of third-party games, which included notable titles like Konami’s Survival Kids, Square Enix’s Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster, and CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077, sales data highlighted a stark trend. Statistics from Circana revealed that a staggering 81% of physical game sales for the Switch 2 were dominated by first-party titles, such as Mario Kart World and the Switch 2 versions of both The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Among third-party games, Cyberpunk 2077 emerged as the best-seller to date, with Sega positioned as the third-largest publisher on the platform.
Mat Piscatella, executive director at Circana, noted that third-party games constituted approximately 40% of all physical software sales during the Switch 2’s first week, significantly higher compared to the launch of the original Switch. However, even with this improvement, the overall performance still falls short of optimistic forecasts, underscoring the challenges for third-party developers amidst a strong first-party game presence.
The discussion has also included the role of Game-Key Cards—physical media that require downloadable content to function fully. Retailer Kelsey Lewin expressed dissatisfaction with their sales, noting low consumer interest despite initial marketing expectations. Meanwhile, Daniel Ahmad from Niko Partners countered that the impact of Game-Key Cards on sales is being overstated, as resistance to purchasing titles without complete physical copies remains a minor viewpoint in the gaming community.
While third-party game performances for the Switch 2 may not have started strong, industry observers are keen to see if future releases can improve sales trajectories as time progresses.
