Switch 2 sells 270,000 units in first week, outselling PS5

VGChartz released global console hardware sales data for the first week of April 2026, showing Switch 2 moved 271,500 units worldwide compared to PS5's 269,000 units, claiming the weekly sales crown. This marks the first time Switch 2 has outsold PS5 in a single week since launch.

This result gets a 7 out of 10. Not because Switch 2 underperformed, but because the numbers tell a more complicated story. A 2,500-unit margin—271k versus 269k—barely qualifies as a decisive win. For a brand-new console going up against a three-year-old platform, that's a surprisingly narrow lead.

Regional breakdowns reveal more. Switch 2 sold 111,200 units in North America, 61,900 in Japan, and 71,400 in Europe. Japan and North America both favored Switch 2 over PS5 this week, confirming Nintendo's stronghold in those markets. Europe leaned toward PS5, consistent with Sony's historical dominance there.

The "victory" here carries less weight than it appears. PS5 is deep into its lifecycle with no major exclusives driving current sales, so steady numbers are expected. Switch 2 launched with novelty on its side yet only edged ahead by 2,500 units. A stronger launch lineup could have doubled that figure.

Compare this to the original Switch's 2017 debut. With The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild launching alongside it, the console sold 330,000 units in Japan within three days and cleared one million globally in its first week. Switch 2's 271,500 global first-week total falls short of that benchmark. Nintendo played it safe this time, skipping the must-have killer app at launch.

Buying advice? Hold off. Switch 2's hardware is solid, but the game library remains thin. Wait for Mario or Splatoon 3 before jumping in for better value. Buying now means paying for early access with limited software. PS5 remains a viable option if you lack a current-gen console—mature library, stable pricing. Want both? Wait for a Switch 2 price drop or special edition. Nintendo hardware never struggles to sell.