Nintendo Switch 2, launched on June 5, 2025, is off to a promising start with digital revenue and engagement data showing some early signs of promise for third-party titles. A recent analysis by Newzoo’s Game Performance Monitor looked at six key markets and found that select third-party games performed well in terms of digital unit sales and revenue share.
The top digital title was Deltarune, which led the way in digital unit sales, thanks to its free-to-play chapters and strong uptake on Nintendo’s eShop. Mario Kart World also performed surprisingly well, despite being a launch title that relies heavily on physical bundle sales. Other third-party games like Minecraft, No Man’s Sky, and Cyberpunk 2077 benefited from their NS2-specific upgrades and performance boosts.
The revenue data shows what sold, but it’s essential to look at how players are spending their time to understand platform potential. The analysis found that Mario Kart World was the top title by monthly active users (MAU), while Fortnite continued to be a staple across platforms. Other titles like Tears of the Kingdom and Hogwarts Legacy saw significant growth in MAU, thanks to their NS2 upgrades.
These early engagement and digital revenue signals suggest some future potential for third-party success on Switch 2. Notable performances from select third-party titles demonstrate that well-optimized games with genre diversity or new experiences can find an audience. The analysis also highlights the importance of technical upgrades in re-engaging existing players, with Mortal Kombat 11 experiencing significant MAU growth after its improved experience on new hardware.
While first-party Nintendo titles still dominate the ecosystem, these early data points indicate a broader range of releases in the coming months will provide clearer insights into Switch 2’s long-term third-party potential. For now, these digital signals point to meaningful opportunities for third-party publishers and developers on Switch 2.
Source: https://newzoo.com/resources/blog/nintendo-switch-2-launch-what-early-digital-data-reveals-for-third-party-games