You may have heard about this little game called Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, correct? Well, Japanese sales data has revealed that the game has already outsold its 3DS counterpart despite only being on sale for five weeks.
At the very end of last week, new sales figures came in for the week of 31st December - 6th January, revealing that Ultimate had already managed to pass the 2.6 million sales mark in the region. This figure takes it beyond Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS' lifetime sales in Japan, which currently sit at just over 2.5 million.
As noted in the image above, these figures only account for physical sales as chart tracking data currently excludes digital purchases. If digital sales were included, it's likely that the gap would be even larger thanks to an increase in customers opting for digital over physical in recent years.
Ultimate is also quickly closing in on Splatoon 2 in Japan, the game currently sitting at the top of the Switch sales pile. Splatoon 2 has sold 2,882,819 physical copies in the region as of last week, but if Smash continues to sell at its current pace, this total will soon be overtaken, too. It's a frankly monstrous launch period when compared to other releases, and one that no doubt paves the way for continued success as time goes on.
Did you ever think Smash would perform quite this well? Can you see any future Switch games outselling it one day? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
[source twitter.com, via nintendosoup.com]
Comments 35
{Breathes in} Boi.
@TheAwesomeBowser But Kratos isn't in Smash.
@SmaggTheSmug I don't think you understood the joke.
Those Smash Wii U sales really are terrible compared to the others.
Still waiting to hear about how Ultimate literally smashed sales worldwide
@sanderev yeah, poor Wii U
Disappointing sales for such a great game
Smashed it.
GAME
Good job, and two of my favorite characters on the pic. Peach and Daisy
Well, it IS a pretty great game. And versatile, as I've got the Playlist feature running now in the background at my desk.
Awesome news and well deserved.
And Sony allstar battle royale cried in a corner of obscurity.
The 3DS introduced me to smash, and I've been hooked on it ever since. All good things must come to an end tho.
No... Smash just CAN'T outsell Splatoon in Japan!
You guys are all doing it wrong, we're supposed to be downplaying Switch games performing well and bringing up percentage statistics to show just how unimpressive these sales actually are.
Come on.
I was expecting it to outsell Pokémon Red and Green in one day. Total failure on Nintendo’s part. /s
Keep the good times coming Nintendo.
🙄
(Keep focusing to play my Nintendo games i have)
Well deserved. First Smash that has hooked me since Melee.
Wow, this is crazy! I'm glad that the Switch is doing well.
It's funny how Smash Wii U sold so poorly; at that point, the Wii U was dismissed in the public's eye and not even Smash could drive any meaningful sales, despite it being a solid entry. I'm guilty of barely touching it myself, though. On the other hand, I got close to 100%ing 3DS.
@Varkster "P-people are only buying this in such huge numbers because there's nothing else to play! Besides, Japan is an irrelevant market. Here, let me link you to sales charts showing the relative lack of popularity Nintendo enjoys in the U.K.!"
Am I doing it right?
@TheBigK Besides the portability, which was a huge factor in favor of the 3DS version, I also preferred that version's modes and exclusive stages. Smash Run was especially fun.
This is the Ultimate Smash Brothers.
The greatest in history.
"Can you see any future Switch games outselling it one day?"
The ONLY two options I see being able to top Smash would be gen8 Pokémon shortly after launch, or Mariokart 8D but like 10 years from now well after the next wave of consoles is out.
@BloodyMurder that really has nothing to do with anything. It’s not even a current release. Don’t give Nintendo fans a bad name.
@Desrever I could also see a new and exclusive Monster Hunter for the Switch outsell Smash.
@LUIGITORNADO I don't speak for Nintendo fans, I speak for myself. Sony All-star Battle Royale was a big F'in failure, deal with it.
@TheBigK I think what really killed Smash Wii U's sales was releasing the 3DS version first. Everyone already had a 3DS (especially in Japan where the 3DS has outsold the PS2), the Japanese Smash fandom was content with playing the 3DS version and didn't buy a Wii U.
@BloodyMurder The game released how many years ago and is relevant to the conversation how? Sounds like a bunch of Sony fans cornered you in a school yard and gave you a shiner for liking Smash and now you hold some sort of grudge against their All Stars.
You could say it ULTIMATEly SMASHES all previous records.
Nintendo could easily release an N64 Classic with 20 games without having to resort to any third party offerings (or Rareware games). The system could go for US$89.99 and include the following titles:
1 - Super Mario 64
2 - Mario Kart 64
3 - Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
4 - StarFox 64
5 - Pilotwings 64
6 - F-Zero X
7 - Paper Mario
8 - Wave Race 64
9 - Super Smash Bros.
10 - Pokemon Stadium
11 - Mario Tennis
12 - Mario Golf
13 - Donkey Kong 64 (Nintendo owned game, not Rare)
14 - 1080 Snowboarding
15 - Pokemon Snap
16 - Mario Party
17 - Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
18 - Dr. Mario 64
19 - Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
20 - Pokemon Puzzle League
Make it happen Nintendo!
My favorite Smash Bros. title is still Smash Bros. Brawl on the Wii loved the Sub Space E., it was and still is great to play with a friend the co-op was just awesome in that game and it has my favorite boss to fight the one and only Tabuu., I am really let down he is not a fighter in Smash Bros. Ultimate . It would be amazing if Tabuu was one of the DLC characters but I highly doubt that happens would be great though. I do like SB Ultimate it is my second favorite in the series so far and by all means is a fantastic game, the success it is receiving is well deserved .
Worst game on the switch. Overrated and no fun.
@Likethepear Then you havent played the Switch version of WWE 2K18 then.
Yeah, there's totally going to be a 2nd Character Pass after the first one. With these sales, how could you not?
@Desrever
I would be surprised if Animal Crossing 2019 didn't outperform Smash Bros Ultimate. Animal Crossing on DS and 3DS each sold above 5 million in Japan and are among the top-selling games in Japanese history.
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