Switch Enjoys Unprecedented Success in Japan
The Nintendo Switch dominated the retail games market in Japan last week in a way that has not been seen in more than 3 decades. In a stunning display of success, the top 30 most sold games last week are all Nintendo Switch titles. To put this into perspective, the last time this occurred was in 1988, with the Nintendo Famicom.
Japan, despite its population or size, is the third-largest video market in the world. Achieving success in Japan is a great achievement for any gaming company, much less pure dominance over the market as Nintendo has achieved.
Surprisingly, recent JRPG’s such as the anime-styled Scarlet Nexus, which enjoyed great critical acclaim in the West, or NEO: The World Ends With You, sequel to the groundbreaking DS game The World Ends With You, are not at the top of the chart. Instead, classic Nintendo staples such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate sitting at 4th and 8th respectively. In fact, fourteen out of thirty – nearly half – of the games are Nintendo produced.
Surprisingly, the classic Minecraft reigns supreme at #1. The ability of the Nintendo Switch to attract third-party developers cannot be understated. With the majority of the games in this chart as non-Nintendo exclusive, the importance of the mobility and ease of use of the Switch is showcased.
With the next-gen Playstation and Xbox consoles released, it is a surprise to see the relatively older Nintendo Switch still on top. However, it does not spell doom for other consoles – Japanese gamers may just prefer the mobile gaming experience that a Switch provides.
What do you think of the success of the Nintendo Switch in Japan? Let us know down in the comments, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook.
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