The Nintendo Switch is reportedly close to beating the Nintendo DS as the best-selling console in Japan. Read here to find out about the sales report by Famitsu and more.
The Switch Close to Becoming the Number One Console in Japan
One Million Units Left to Beat the DS
According to the 1/22/24 – 1/28/24 sales report from the Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu, lifetime hardware sales of the Nintendo Switch consoles (including the Switch, Switch Lite, and OLED Model) in Japan have reached a total of 32,027,938 units.
This puts the Switch series on the cusp of surpassing the DS series as the best-selling console in the country, needing just around 1 million more units sold, or precisely 962,062 units, to claim the title from its Nintendo predecessor.
As it stands, Nintendo Switch sales lag behind those of the Game Boy and Game Boy Color, totaling 32,470,000 units.
Lifetime Sales of Switch Consoles in Japan:
● Switch Lite – 5,721,761
● Switch – 19,710,724
● Switch OLED Model – 6,595,453
This milestone is expected to be reached this year. In 2023 alone, the Switch sold over 4 million units, marking the highest annual sales in its 7th year, surpassing the Nintendo DS by over 1 million units in the 7th year of the DS. Moreover, production of the DS and its games ceased in 2014, while sales for the Switch and its games continue to soar.
Switch had the Top-Selling Physical Games in 2023
In the Japan Annual Report for 2023, released last month, physical game sales in Japan soared to a staggering ¥403.8 billion (approximately $2.7 billion) from January to December 31, 2023. Leading the pack were Nintendo Switch games, with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom reigning as the top-selling game of the year, boasting 1.9 million physical copies sold since its May debut. Close on its heels is Super Mario Bros Wonder, with 1.5 million physical copies flying off the shelves since its release.
Furthermore, the top ten-selling physical games of 2023 all hail from the Switch platform.
The top-ten best-selling physical games in Japan from December 26, 2022, to December 31, 2023, according to Famitsu:
● The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – 1,929,603
● Super Mario Bros Wonder – 1,549,401
● Pikmin 4 – 1,119,027
● Pokémon Scarlet & Violet – 907,432
● Momotaro Dentetsu World: The Earth Spins with Hope – 795,681
● Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 617,223
● Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe – 514,581
● Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince – 510,477
● Splatoon 3 – 503,312
● Super Mario RPG – 447,687
Source:
Famitsu Annual Sales Report 2023
Famitsu 1/22/24 – 1/28/24 Sales Report Update
