Nintendo's first half operating profit increased by 49.1%, driven by the success of new releases such as Splatoon Raiders
In the first half of 2026, Nintendo experienced a 12.1% drop in net sales, brought on primarily by a decline in hardware sales.
The company's operating profit surged by 49.1% to ¥216.5 billion (equivalent to $1.3 billion), bolstered by robust sales of software from newly launched games, including Splatoon Raiders, in addition to a refund from U.S. tariffs received in the first quarter.
Nintendo clarified that the tariff-related refunds were absorbed by the company and not reflected in consumer prices.
The numbers
As of September 30, 2026
- Net sales: ¥966 billion ($6.1 billion), a decrease of 12.1%
- Operating profit: ¥216.5 billion ($1.3 billion), a rise of 49.1%
- Ordinary profit: ¥300.6 billion ($1.9 billion), an increase of 27.4%
- Hardware sales (including Switch and Switch 2): 7.76 million units
- Software sales (including Switch and Switch 2): 90.22 million units
The highlights
Despite growth in software units sold, overall revenue from Nintendo's gaming platform segment fell by 15.3% to ¥903.3 billion (approximately $5.7 billion).
Sales of Switch 2 hardware fell by 37.4%, down to 6.49 million units from 10.36 million units the previous year. Nintendo conveyed that the system maintained consumer adoption due to new game releases.
Key game releases included Splatoon Raiders, which launched in July and sold 2.42 million units, Star Fox in June with 1.17 million units, and the September release of Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, selling 1.34 million units. In total, software sales for Switch 2 went up by 18.8% to reach 24.49 million units, rising from 20.62 million the year prior.
Sales of the original Switch hardware fell by 32.7%, with 1.27 million units sold, compared to 1.89 million in the previous year. The OLED version was the most popular, selling 63,000 units, followed by the original Switch at 35,000 and the Lite model at 29,000.
Overall software sales climbed by 6.8% to 65.73 million units, driven by successes like Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, selling 8.81 million units, and Rhythm Heaven Groove, achieving 2.89 million in sales.
Digital sales accounted for 60.7% of total software sales, amounting to ¥249.6 billion ($1.5 billion), illustrating a growing trend towards digital purchases of packaged games.
"Our objective is to broaden the Nintendo Switch 2 user base by extending sales of both existing and new titles. Software publishers will continue to release diverse titles," stated Nintendo.
Upcoming releases in the next financial period will include Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and Metroid Ravenous, expected for January 2027.
Nintendo emphasized the focus on expanding the reach of Nintendo Switch 2 to more users while leveraging the existing Switch hardware base and software variety to enhance software sales and sustain user engagement.