The Nintendo Switch was released in March 2017, introducing fans to a hybrid console. The system became a massive hit with gamers as it allowed them to game on the go or play on a TV via a dock. While the revolutionary system is not the most powerful piece of gaming hardware on the market these days, it continues to be successful for Nintendo. This is especially true in Japan.
Recently, new data was revealed regarding video game console sales in Japan. According to the information collected by Famitsu, Nintendo had a very successful 2021 in the country compared to its competitors. From December 28, 2020, to December 19, 2021, the Nintendo Switch sold an impressive 5.3 million units in Japan. It’s worth noting that the number of units sold includes all 3 models of the console: standard, Lite, and the recently released OLED.
These sales figures for the hybrid console are even more impressive when compared to those of other video game companies. Based on the data from Famitsu, Nintendo sold nearly 5 times the amount of its systems compared to all other consoles combined. While Nintendo Switch sold 5.3 million units, the total combined units sold of PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and even the portable Nintendo 3DS were 1.1 million. As the numbers suggest, Nintendo seems to remain the most popular video game company in Japan.
Besides Nintendo’s continued popularity in the country, several first-party games helped boost sales during 2021. Games such as Monster Hunter Rise and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury helped propel sales during the first part of the year. In addition, the release of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl in November helped move units during the holiday shopping season.
Despite Nintendo being the big winner in Japan, PlayStation had some success on the market as well. During the same period mentioned for Nintendo, Sony sold 942,798 PS5 units. While these sales were significantly less than those of the Nintendo Switch, they far exceeded its other competitor, Xbox. Unfortunately for the Xbox Series X/S, it failed to break into 6-digit sales figures as it only sold 95,598 units. It was even beat by the previous generation PS4, which sold 103,786 units. However, this was somewhat expected as Xbox consoles have never gained much traction in Japan.
These sales figures are doubtlessly exciting news not only for Nintendo but also for fans of the company. It will be interesting to see how many Nintendo Switch units the Japanese game company sells in the coming months as Switch-exclusive games, such as Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Splatoon 3, and Breath of the Wild 2, are potentially coming in 2022.
Source: gamesindustry.biz