The Nintendo Switch has reportedly sold over 15 million units in Japan, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons sold over 5.6 million units.
The console launched in 2017, and by January 2018 had become Nintendo’s fastest selling console in US history. Over the past year, we have seen sales balloon worldwide. From 32.27 million (February 2019), to 34.77 million (April 2019), 36.87 million (July 2019), 41.67 million (October 2019), 52.48 million (January 2020), to 55.77 million (May 2020).
Now, Famitsu reports (translation: Google Translate) the Nintendo Switch has sold 15,073,025 units in Japan (as of September 6th). One of the reason for the console’s success has been attributed to the runaway success of Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
The game sold 1.8 million physical units in its first three days on sale in Japan (making it the best opening week for a Nintendo Switch game), and analysts later claimed the game sold 5 million digital copies over March 2020 (more than any other console game in history).
Later it was revealed the game sold 11.77 million units in its first 11 days on sale, and 13.4 million in its first six weeks. In mid-May it had become the fastest selling Nintendo Switch game in Japan. It later became the best selling game in Japan’s first half of 2020, with over an estimated 5 million physical copies sold.
Famitsu now reports the game has now sold over 5,628,462 units in Japan, as of August 30th. As of June 30th, the game has sold over 22 million units worldwide. The Nintendo The Financial Results Explanatory Material notes that the game “contributed greatly to overall growth in sales.”
Later it was revealed that the game outsold Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver in Japan. This made it the second best selling game in Japan of all time.
The coronavirus pandemic has been attributed to Animal Crossing: New Horizons‘ success. Reasons vary from its cute and relaxing tone, to providing a sense of routine and stability at a difficult time. The pandemic and subsequent quarantine orders have also been cited as the reason for increased console sales.
Other noted sales data includes Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (3,809,943), Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield (3,717,997), Splatoon 2 (3,544,763), and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (3,131,858).
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is out now on Nintendo Switch. In case you missed it, you can find our review here (we recommend it!)
Image: Reddit