One industry analyst says that the Nintendo Switch 2 is “exactly what people wanted and expected”, but it might not be enough to beat the first one’s sales

The Nintendo Switch has achieved incredible success, but one analyst speculates that the upcoming Switch 2 may not reach the same level of popularity.

As of now, the original Nintendo Switch has sold approximately 146 million units, making it the third best-selling console of all time. It is only eight million units behind the Nintendo DS in second place and 14 million units behind the PS2 in first place. With the official announcement of the Switch 2, it is less likely that the OG Switch will claim the top spot. Nevertheless, it has solidified its position as one of the highest-selling consoles in history, even if it were to drop a spot or two. Therefore, there are high expectations for its successor, but one analyst believes that the Switch 2 may not surpass the original’s success.

In an interview with GamesRadar, Mat Piscatella from the market research firm Circana mentioned that the “Switch 2 can (and I expect it to) be a massive success. But I also don’t expect it to reach Switch. It’s tough to forecast for an outlier. It could happen, but it’s not likely.” He further explained that while the Switch 2 offers enhanced features, it may not attract a new audience beyond existing Switch owners.

The initial trailer for the Switch 2 showcases its larger size and the introduction of a new Mario Kart game, which is promising but may not be a significant selling point. Piscatella added, “There may be more surprises in store that have not been leaked yet. We’ll have to wait for the Direct to find out.”

Even if the Switch 2 falls short of the original Switch’s sales numbers, it is expected to perform well, especially considering that Nintendo games are exclusively available on Nintendo consoles. The upcoming Direct presentation will reveal more about what the Switch 2 has to offer.