Nintendo’s Switch 2 claimed the top spot in US hardware sales for March 2026, outselling the PS5 in both unit and dollar terms – and according to Bloomberg, you can largely thank Pokémon Pokopia for that. The surprise hit landed at exactly the right moment, driving a wave of Switch 2 purchases that helped push Americans to spend $500 million on gaming hardware last month – a staggering 69% year-over-year increase.
Circana analyst Mat Piscatella was direct about what moved the needle, stating that Pokopia “was the primary driver” of Switch 2’s March performance. That’s a remarkable statement when you consider the franchise’s pull – Pokémon has been generating serious buzz lately, and it clearly translated into hardware sales in a way that Sony couldn’t match this month. Keep in mind these figures cover physical and hardware spending tracked by Circana, so digital software numbers sit outside this particular read.
The result is another strong signal that Switch 2’s momentum hasn’t cooled since its explosive launch in June 2025, when it sold over 3.5 million units globally in its first four days. Japan has been similarly bullish on the hardware, and a 69% hardware spending spike in the US suggests the platform is still pulling in new buyers rather than just selling to early adopters. Whilst Sony’s PS5 remains a formidable competitor, Nintendo has shown that the right software release – even a surprise one – can flip the monthly chart overnight. With major third-party titles like Final Fantasy VII Remake heading to Switch 2, the platform’s software pipeline looks healthy enough to keep this kind of momentum going.
Are you surprised that Pokémon Pokopia was enough to push Switch 2 past PS5 in March, or did you see this one coming? Let us know in the comments below, and keep your eyes on GameLuster for more breaking gaming news.
