Gallery Japan Goes Absolutely Potty About Nintendo Labo
Bored of cardboard? Not even close
News Batter Up As Pro Yakyuu Famista Evolution Sprints To Home Base On Switch
It's due in Japan in August
News The Snack World Scoffs Its Way To Number One In The Japanese Charts
The Switch port does the numbers
Japan - News
April2018
Feature Enjoy The Cardboard Craziness Of These Nintendo Labo Creations
It's just pure creation
Since its January reveal, the question on many people's lips has been can Nintendo Labo's cardboard construction kit survive the novelty factor and wear 'n' tear of younger audiences to genuinely engage creative minds beyond customisation? If early indications are to be believed, the answer is, emphatically, yes, as Japanese...
News Batter Up As Pro Yakyuu Famista Evolution Sprints To Home Base On Switch
It's due in Japan in August
It's time to dust off your favourite slugger and head onto the field because Bandai Namco is bringing the Yakyuu Famista series to Nintendo Switch in the form of Yakyuu Famista Evolution. It's currently only slated for a Japanese release, but since its based on the players in the NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball league),...
Gallery Japan Goes Absolutely Potty About Nintendo Labo
Bored of cardboard? Not even close
Whatever you think of Nintendo’s latest and wackiest creation, Labo has been pretty indicative of the company's aggressive marketing in the weeks since its brief yet impactful reveal in January. With a combination of Nintendo’s fitting mantra of ‘thinking outside the box’, utilising the console's many new...
News The Snack World Scoffs Its Way To Number One In The Japanese Charts
The Switch port does the numbers
The Japanese charts are in, with The Snack World Trejarers Gold Nintendo Switch port filling its belly with sales (and the top spot, just for good measure). It did so well it's knocked Kirby Star Allies off the number one position, although Splatoon 2 holds fast at three for another week. Elsewhere, Mario Kart 8...
News Splatoon 2's Octo Expansion Is Getting Its Own CD Soundtrack
Octotune up
Splatoon 2's upcoming Octo Expansion DLC is getting its own soundtrack album in Japan, it has been revealed. The album - which launches on July 18th in Japan - will come with two CDs. One will contains tracks from Octo Expansion, in addition to new songs which have been added to the core game via software updates. The second CD...
Feature Exploring Japan's Undying Love For Arcade 'Candy' Cabinets
Sweet stuff
Arcades may have all but died out in the west, but in Japan they remain big business. I write a website about arcades in Tokyo, and sometimes forget it’s not normal to live in an arcade daydream. I‘m prone to using obscure arcade terminology and I neglect readers who don’t click joysticks in the noise so often. I’m frequently...
News Success And City Connection Confirm Psyvariar Delta For August Release On Switch
Coming in digital and physical forms, too
Recently, we reported on the news that Switch was getting a revised edition of the vertically-scrolling shooter Psyvariar, originally created by Success Corporation. It has now been revealed in Weekly Famitsu that the game will be called Psyvariar Delta, and it launches on Switch and PS4...
News Japan Is More Excited About Nintendo Labo Than God Of War
Cardboard Kratos
God of War may be enjoying a triumphant return to relevance with its latest instalment on PS4, but that doesn't mean that critical success in the West translates into equal popularity on the other side of the world. In fact, if the sales charts on Amazon Japan are anything to go by, Nintendo Labo is proving a far more enticing...
News Just How Is Nintendo Making All The Cardboard Kits For Nintendo Labo?
Japanese packaging firm Rengo to the rescue!
The release of Nintendo Labo for Switch is right around the corner now, with Toy-Con 01 - Variety Kit and Toy-Con 02 - Robot Kit becoming available on 20th April in the US and Japan, and later on the 27th in Europe. Now you might be wondering how Nintendo is going to manage producing all of...
Video Take A Quick Peek Inside Nintendo HQ In Japan
Where dreams are made
Many of us are familiar with the half beautiful, half corporate-looking appearance of Nintendo's Japanese headquarters from the outside; this huge, white, cube-like building has likely been the subject of thousands of online searches and probably the first place many of us tried when opening up Google Earth for the first time...
News AtGames Confirms It's Making The Mega Drive Mini, Then Deletes Tweet
The plot thickens...
Yesterday, it was revealed that Sega is bringing its own "classic edition" system to market in the form of the Mega Drive Mini. A micro-console pre-loaded with classic titles, the system was shown off during an event in Japan, instantly triggering speculation that AtGames - a US firm which has been making officially-licensed...
News Sega Announces AGES For Nintendo Switch, Mega Drive Mini Console
AtGames confirms it's making the mini console
During a live Twitch presentation in Tokyo this morning, Sega announced that a download-only selection of 15 titles under the name SEGA AGES will be making their way to Switch in the summer. These include company mascot platformer Sonic the Hedgehog, Thunder Force 4, Phantasy Star and more to be...
News Kirby Star Allies Gobbles Up The Top Spot Again In The Japanese Charts
And Switch sells four times as many units as PS4
It's been another big week for Nintendo in the Land of the Rising Sun as Kirby Star Allies storms back into first place following a drop to number four last week. Splatoon 2 jumps back into the top three now that the PS4 and PS Vita versions of Super Robot Wars X have dropped further down the charts...
News Treasure Teases Both Ikaruga And Nintendo Switch Fans
Will this GameCube classic ever come to Switch?
Hardly a day goes by at Nintendo Life Towers when we don't daydream about Ikagura one day appearing on Nintendo Switch. Smooth 60fps in both docked and portable mode? Check. Optional TATE mode for both modes? Double check. We do like to daydream around here, but looks like we might not be the only...
News Disgaea Refine Launches On Switch Later This Year In Japan
A remake of Disgaea: Hour of Darkness
The latest issue of Dengeki PlayStation has revealed that the previously-mooted remake of Disgaea: Hour of Darkness is called Disgaea Refine, and it will be hitting Switch this July in Japan. The original game was released on the PlayStation 2 way back in 2003, and established a series which continues to...
News Etrian Odyssey Is Mapping Out One Final Adventure On Nintendo 3DS
The 3DS isn't dead yet
The Switch may be Nintendo's main focus now but that doesn't mean the 3DS is on the way out - in fact, the console is continuing to get software throughout 2018. Atlus has just confirmed that Etrian Odyssey X will launch on the Nintendo 3DS on August 2nd, with a price of ¥6,998 in Japan. It is being billed as the final...
News Yo-Kai Watch 4 Coming To The Nintendo Switch This Year In Japan
Super high-grade power up
In what should come as a surprise to basically no-one, the next instalment in the Yo-Kai Watch series, simply known as Yo-Kai Watch 4 for the time being, will be coming to the Switch rather than the 3DS. This will be welcome news to many Nintendo gamers who only want to play games on the latest and greatest hardware. This...
Feature Game Bar Space Station - Osaka's Gaming Paradise
Cocktails and controllers to cater for all tastes
While Tokyo may be the first stop on many gamers' lists due to its numerous arcades and the famous Akihabara area, other parts of Japan also have their own little pockets of gaming heaven for locals and tourists alike. Located in Amemura - just a few minutes walk from the Dotonbori river and...
News No, Sega Is Not Returning To The Home Console Arena
It's a lot less exciting than that
In a recent interview with Yahoo! Japan, Sega Games COO Kenji Matsubara got chins wagging by pointing out that the Japanese giant is considering releasing a new console in Japan - but it's not quite what you think, or what some other sites have reported, either. Matsubara is in fact talking about importing the...
News Nintendo Switch Continues To Dominate The Hardware Charts In Japan
The Switch reign continues
Last week's Japan charts are in, and they show Nintendo Switch holding onto the top spot in hardware sales with over 44,000 units sold. Even with a drop over 6,000 from the previous week, Switch sold almost three times as many machines as PlayStation 4, its nearest competitor. Sales in Japan have now topped 4 million...
March2018
Feature A Tour Of Game Bar A Button, Tokyo's Treasure Trove Of Gaming Kitch
A tiny museum of Nintendo and nostalgia, hidden out of sight
Discovering Tokyo's secrets relies on a mixture of research, recommendations, and - should you have the time - luck. What is important to note is that Tokyo simply can not be digested as one giant whole. The greater area is home to some 33 million people, with 12 million of those in the...
News Nintendo Switch Has Now Sold 4 Million Units In Japan
4,037,144, to be precise
In just over a year on sale, the Switch has pushed past the 4 million units sold marker in its homeland, according to Famistu. As of 25th March 2018, 4,037,144 Switch consoles are now safely in the hands of Japanese players. When you consider that's the total for a single territory after a little more than 12 months, it's...
Random There's A New Game On The Japanese Switch eShop That's Definitely NSFW
Cover your children's eyes now, please
While Nintendo has long been associated with family-friendly fun, that hasn't stopped a fair share of 'adult' titles making their way onto its consoles. Since most of these have either been ultra-violent (hello, DOOM) or uber scary (hi there, Outlast 2), we've rarely batted an eyelid, but what about adult games...
News Detective Pikachu Has A Much Better Launch In Japan While Kirby Remains On Top
There's still love for Pokémon spin-offs in the East
While Detective Pikachu had a lackluster debut last week in the UK, the 3DS-based spin-off fared far better in Japan with a respectable 42,013 units sold. That puts it in fourth place with Kirby Star Allies performing well enough to hold off two big releases on PS4. Hyrule Warriors: Definitive...
News That Japanese "Dragon Quest Law" Is Actually An Urban Myth
The creators behind the franchise spill the beans
Those of you versed in video game history will be aware of a story relating to the astonishing popularity of Dragon Quest, one of Japan's most beloved RPGs. Back when the series was just starting out on the Famicom, kids and adults alike would bunk off school or work to buy it and spend an entire day...
News Your Prayers Have Been Answered, Hori Is Making A Joy-Con With A Proper D-Pad
Retro gamers rejoice!
Japanese peripheral maker Hori is creating a left-hand Joy-Con with an old-school D-pad, it has been revealed by Famitsu. The timing is fortunate, as PlatinumGames' Hideki Kamiya only tweeted last week (with his tongue firmly in-cheek, of course) that he might lose motivation for developing
News Kirby Star Allies Gobbles Its Way To The Top Of The Japanese Charts
Splatoon 2 also sees a resurgance
The Media Create data for the Japanese multiformat charts is in, hot off the digital presses, and it shows Kirby Star Allies arriving on Japanese shores with quite the impressive debut. It enters the charts at number one, with 222,031 copies sold in its first week. Splatoon 2 has also had a great week, surging back...
Video Nintendo Releases Infectiously Upbeat Switch Spring Line-Up Video In Japan
Mario Tennis Aces! Splatoon 2 DLC! Donkey Kong! Kirby!
Nintendo's got a lot of forward momentum right now, but if 2018 is going to be anywhere near as successful as 2017, the company needs to keep hammering home the key "play anytime, anywhere" message of the Switch. That's precisely what it's doing in Japan with this new spring line-up commercial,...
Video Take A Tour Of The Now Closed Final Fantasy "Memories of You" Museum
A Perfect Memory
From 22nd January to 28th February, Square-Enix hosted a special art and multimedia exhibition in Tokyo to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Final Fantasy game series. It isn’t the only way Square-Enix will celebrate these thirty glorious years, and this event follows the other big role-playing game series...
Gallery The Pokémon Cafe Is Just Too Cute For Words
Japan gets all the best stuff
A few weeks ago we reported on a new Pokémon themed cafe in Tokyo which was due to open later in the month. Now that it's finally open Japanese website gamer.ne.jp paid a visit to check it out, and it certainly looks to be a rather special place indeed. Here are some of the things which caught our eye from the visit...
News Lode Runner Legacy Dashes Onto Switch This Spring In Japan
Complete with a first-person mode
Tozai Games is bringing Lode Runner Legacy to Switch in Japan, it has been revealed. An update of the classic Brøderbund title from '80s, Lode Runner Legacy launched on PC last year and comes with a whole host of modes, including a level editor and character editor. You can even choose to experience the...
News Switch's Stellar First Year Helps Nintendo Bag Itself An AMD Excellence Award
AMD another thing
Nintendo Switch pulled off quite the first year - just check out our extensive coverage to see just how well it did - but that success hasn't gone unnoticed. Earlier today, at the 23rd AMD Awards, the Big N took to the stage at the Meiji Kinenkan venue in Tokyo and received the prestigious AMD Excellence Award. Some big names...
News Bandai Namco's Taiko no Tatsujin Is Coming To Switch In Japan
With songs from Super Mario Odyssey and Splatoon 2
During last night's Japanese Nintendo Direct it was announced that Taiko: Drum Master - known as Taiko no Tatsujin in its homeland - is coming to the Nintendo Switch, complete with songs from Super Mario Odyssey and Splatoon 2. Two-player support is included thanks to the fact that...
News Zelda's Link Is Gatecrashing A Phantasy Star Title, But Only In Japan
Breath of fresh (wild) air?
While us westerners were getting all excited about Smash on Switch, Okami HD and Dark Souls amiibo, our Japanese friends were - well, getting excited about those things, too. However, there were some Japan-exclusive pieces of news, the
Video This New Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition Trailer Is Full To The Brim
HD fairies ahoy
Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition may be a triple-dip for Nintendo and Koei Tecmo, but we're nevertheless quite interested in playing it for a third time in portable HD. To drum up interest ahead of launch, Koei Tecmo has released a fresh trailer which is literally bursting at the seams with content. There's action, fairies and...
News Looks Like 3DS Title Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido Is Getting A Switch Upgrade
Leak also confirms Mario Tennis Aces release date
Japanese online retailer Rakuten has leaked information regarding two Switch titles ahead of today's Nintendo Direct broadcast. Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido - previously confirmed for release on 3DS - has been listed by Rakuten on Switch. Both it and the 3DS...
News Jump Aboard This Enormous 'Absolutely Ridable Lapras' Pokémon Toy
Yes please!
Poké-fans may well lovingly remember the huge Snorlax plush from a couple of years back which could double up as a bed if you wished, instantly becoming one of the must-have items of the time, and now we have another one to join the crew, too. Introducing the wonderfully named 'Absolutely Ridable Lapras': The Absolutely Ridable...
News Dragon Quest Builders Leads A Switch Takeover Of The Japanese Charts
And Switch sold the most units, too
Last week's Media Create chart data for Japan is in, and it shows Nintendo Switch making an all-out assault on the top five with no less than four titles jostling for control. And while Monster Hunter World continues to hold the top spot, Dragon Quest Builders debuted a mere 10,000 units behind Capcom's behemoth...
Gallery Tokyo's Latest Pokémon Cafe Is Full Of Delicious Poké-Treats
We'll have one of everything, please
We know, we know - Japan gets all the cool stuff! Nintendo-centric stores and restaurants aren't all that rare in Japan, with Pokémon in particular being the focus of a number of stores in the country's capital, but this new Pokémon cafe has definitely risen towards the top of our 'must visit' list. Opening...
Random Nintendo Labo Isn't The Only Way To Combine Cardboard With Your Switch
That's handy, if you like Mahjong
Some days you do just have to chuckle to yourself when covering the latest gaming news. While some were skeptical of Nintendo Labo when it was first revealed, the concept seems to have won a lot of people over and the use of cardboard alongside the Labo games is genuinely innovative. And then we have the photo...
February2018
News Nintendo Is Shutting Down StreetPass Relay Stations In Japan
A passing craze?
StreetPass is one of the coolest elements of the 3DS hardware and was encouraging people to venture outdoors long before Pokemon GO turned up. Sadly, Nintendo chose not to continue the service on Switch, and we're slowly but surely seeing it fade into history as the 3DS winds down. A sign of things come to has just been announced...
News Takara Tomy Is Building A New Zoids Game For Switch
Let's hope it doesn't lose all those little rubber bits
Hey, remember Zoids? Well they're back, in Nintendo Switch form! That's right, the popular '80s toy line is getting a brand-new interactive outing on Nintendo's console, thanks to Takara Tomy. It will be based on the new anime series Zoids Wild, which airs this year in Japan. While Zoids hit...
Beat it
It's tempting (if not inevitable) to start this review with an anecdote about that infamous E3 (which will be a decade ago by the time this year's event rolls around), and in particular, the oblivious flailing exploits of one Ravi the drummer. While maestro Tak Fujii's own meme-farming antics over the years live long in seasoned gamers...
News Splatoon 2 Makes A Splash In The Top Three In This Week's Japanese Charts
But Bayonetta 2 charts outside the top 10
The Japanese chart data is in, and it's a mixed bag of highs and lows for Nintendo this week. Splatoon 2, having hit the two million sales mark last week, crept into the top three behind PS4 remake Secret Of Mana and the ever powerful Monster Hunter World. However, the Switch port of Bayonetta 2 and...
News Retro Shmup Kyogeki Quartet Fighters Blasts Onto The Japanese Switch eShop This Week
Complete with music from famous Japanese composers
Japanese developer Happymeal is bringing retro-style shooter Kyogeki Quartet Fighters to Switch next week, it has been revealed. The news comes in the latest issue of Weekly Famitsu, which lists a Nintendo eShop release for February 22nd, with a cost of 1,389 Yen. The game allows up to...
News Splatoon 2 Crosses The Two Million Marker As Nintendo Titles Swamp The Japanese Charts
Monster Hunter World dominates the top spot, however
You have to hand it to Capcom, Monster Hunter World still reigns supreme in the Japanese charts according to the latest Media Create figures. Then of course we have the new entries of Dynasty Warriors 9 and Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet -- two franchises which prove...
News This Face-To-Face Cabinet From Japan Is How Local Multiplayer Should Be Played
It's due out in May
We all know local multiplayer is one of Nintendo Switch's most attractive features - especially while we wait until September for the Online Service to finally go live - so imagine our surprise/excitement when we got wind a firm in Japan is manufacturing a cabinet that houses two Switches and their Joy-Cons and creates the...
Video Meta Knight Is Bossing It In This New Kirby Star Allies Trailer
Knight knight
Here at Nintendo Life, we're more than a little excited for the latest entry in the Kirby series. In fact, we're so hyped for it we even put together 26 of our favourite facts about the upcoming co-op platformer. Well, now Nintendo has released a new Japanese trailer for Kirby Star Allies, this time focusing on long-time series baddie...
News Legendary Nintendo Developer Takehiro Izushi Has Officially Retired
His 43-year-long career had a huge impact on Ninty
Nintendo has waved goodbye to one of its most influential - and longest serving - voices with the news that producer and developer Takehiro Izushi has officially retired at the age of 65. The legendary figurehead joined Nintendo in 1975, where he was involved in the mechanical design of the...
News The Snack World Trejarers Gold Will Scoff Its Way Onto Nintendo Switch On 12th April
It's just for Japan, though
We've known for a little while that a port of The Snack World - a Japan-only RPG that's evolved into a multimedia hit brand with its own film and a line of super popular toys - will be getting a Nintendo Switch port, but now we finally have a date. Developer Level 5 has confirmed the game - called The Snack World...
News This Week's Japan Charts Show Nintendo With Eight Games In The Top 10
Unfortunately, it missed out on the top two
The latest Media Create figures are in for this week's Japanese charts and they show Nintendo holding onto a whopping 80% of the top 10. The only caveat is the two places Nintendo hasn't claimed are slots number one and number two, which went to Monster Hunter World and Dragon Ball FighterZ respectively...
Random The SNES, Famicom And Mega Drive Are Reborn In These Custom Painted Gundam Figures
Mobile suit retro
Often described as the Japanese Star Wars, Mobile Suit Gundam is one of the longest-running sci-fi properties in the Far East and has millions of fans all over the globe. Gamers will of course be intimately familiar with the franchise thanks to the multitude of officially-licensed games that have appeared on practically...
Feature This Ain't A Scene It's An ARMS Race (At EVO Japan 2018)
Switch exclusive has a competitive community to cherish following EVO Japan
Before fighting game regulars Tekken, Street Fighter and Smash Bros took to the stage at EVO Japan last weekend, a select group of a strong, committed and vocal community came together to advocate the inclusion of the newest title on the roster - Nintendo Switch exclusive...
January2018
News Almost Half Of The Games In Japan's Charts Are On Switch, Mario + Rabbids Takes Top Spot
Nintendo continues to hold its own in January
The Media Creates figures for week three of January 2018 are in, and they show another strong set of performances for Nintendo Switch in the East. Nine games in the top 20 are on Nintendo's latest platform with Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle continuing to show cross-market appeal as it grabs the number...
News The Creator Of Smartphone Hit Downwell Has Joined Nintendo
We're welling up
Ojiro "Moppin" Fumoto - best known for the award-winning mobile title Downwell - has joined Nintendo. Fumoto made the announcement via his Twitter account, and his profile now features the text "Downwell / Nintendo". While "serious" gamers often look down on smartphone titles, Downwell is one of those rare cases of a mobile game...
News Sonic The Hedgehog Creator Yuji Naka Joins Square Enix, will "Strive To Develop Games"
The man behind the 'Hog has a new home
Japan's video game output has produced some of the industry's most talented and much-loved developers, but when you're the man who formally led Sonic Team and lead programming on the original Sonic The Hedgehog, you're afforded a little more fanfare when you join a new studio. That's why we're excited to...
Random This Japanese Kid Was Living The Nintendo Labo Dream In October Last Year
Ahead of the game, sort of
Nintendo Labo may have taken the gaming world by complete surprise, but one Japanese player was exploring the joys of cardboard construction as early as October last year. Twitter user masaki_samurai posted the following video of his child playing with a specially-constructed gun in Splatoon 2. OK, so it's not...
News Analysts Suggest Nintendo Switch May Have Sold 14.6 Million, Trounced Wii U Lifetime Sales
If these numbers are true, then wow...
If there's one story - other than the announcement of Nintendo Labo and the divisive response its created - that's dominated Nintendo Switch news, it's how well the console is selling. Wii U has been the benchmark so far, with sales in J
News Zero Gunner 2 Stealthily Launches On Japanese Switch eShop
Zerodiv sneaks Arcade and Dreamcast shmup classic into Japan
We knew it was inbound, but out of nowhere Psikyo's cult shmup Zero Gunner 2 has appeared on the Japanese eShop. It's a pleasant surprise to see this blaster - which fetches a pretty penny on the Sega Dreamcast - pop up on Nintendo's console. If you have a Japanese account...
News SD Gundam G Generation Genesis To Hit Japanese Switches This April
Mechs a lot of sense
Originally released on PS4 and PS Vita back at the end of 2016 as part of the Gundam30th celebration, SD Gundam G Generation Genesis is finally getting another portable release, this time on Nintendo Switch. The caveat being it's currently only being slated for Japan with a 26th April release date and a 6,800 Yen price...
News Zombie Horror Returns To Japanese Arcades With House Of The Dead: Scarlet Dawn
Although a console port does seem unlikely at this stage
We all know our friends in Japan get all the fun games - especially when it comes to its thriving arcade industry - so we're more than a little jealous to learn SEGA will be releasing a brand new House Of The Dead game - subtitled Scarlet Dawn - in 2018. Noticed by twitter user...
Random There's A Super-Secret Bar In Japan Nintendo's Employees Don't Want You To Find
Bar '84' has become the 'Mecca of Nintendo fans'
There are plenty of Nintendo-related shops and locations that both local and foreign fans always make a beeline for when in Japan, but there's one that's become so legendary it's gained the title of the 'Mecca of Nintendo Fans'. Why? Because it's members-only establishment whose location has remained...
News Splatoon 2 Has Become The First Home Console Game This Decade To Sell 2 Million Copies In Japan
Switch is squids in
Nintendo Switch has been claiming many a sales record as a console - racking up impressive performances everywhere from Italy and France to an astounding 4.8 million units shifted in the US alone - but what about its individual games? Well, according to some Japanese chart data release last week,
News Switch's Second Year Will Be "Crucial" Says Nintendo President
Kimishima describes Switch as, “a game console with long lifespan”
Nintendo Switch's inaugural year hasn't even drawn to a close yet, and Nintendo, rather wisely, is already looking to the console's sophomore year. And, according to a recent interview with Nintendo president and all-round head honcho Tatsumi Kimishima, "in order to be playable...
News Nintendo's Employees Once Went On Hunger Strike In Protest To Factory Closures
Back in 1955, that is
We'd all probably love to have a job at Nintendo these days, but back in the 1950s - when Ninty was a manufacturer of playing cards (specifically, a popular Japanese game called 'hanafuda') - things were a little different. Decades before its move towards video games, the firm was going through some internal struggles, which...
News The Food-Obsessed RPG The Snack World: Trejarers To Cook Up A Storm On Switch
The cross-media hit makes the leap from 3DS to Switch
When it comes to zany, oddball ideas, Japan's gaming industry has the market sewn up. Take The Snack World: Trejarers, a cutesy RPG boasting an unhealthy obsession with foodstuffs and smartphones, which has just been announced for Nintendo Switch in Japan. Swapping out a traditional fantasy...
One major retailer has run dry on first-party Switch games
Nintendo Switch has already proved it's a monster seller in terms of console units in Japan, but with all that hardware flying off shelves the demand for software has also gone through the roof. Along with news of Amazon Japan selling out of major first-party titles last week, now one of...
Video The Super Mario Anime Series You Probably Never Knew About
Peach-boy and Princess Peach
Back in 1988, Nintendo was approached by a large Japanese manufacturer called "Amada" with a proposal for creating three anime episodes of famous Japanese tales featuring Mario characters. One of these stories was based off of the tale "Momotaro", meaning "Peach Boy". On a floating island somewhere in space, two Hammer...
News ARMS Keeps On Swinging Thanks To A Group Of Dedicated Fans
Boxing clever
As one of Nintendo's newest first-party IP, ARMS came out swinging haymakers in 2017, but it's often struggled to keep the same kind of exposure as the likes of Splatoon 2, Breath Of The Wild and
News Nintendo Switch Has Already Surpassed Wii U's Lifetime Sales In Japan
Another milestone checked off
As reported in Famitsu earlier in the week - and picked up on by Twitter user Nibel yesterday morning - Nintendo Switch has officially passed the lifetime sales of Wii U in Japan. According to the latest issue's figures, Nintendo Switch has now sold 3,407,158 console units, surpassing the lifetime sales of its...
News Give Your Smartphone A Link To The Past With This Awesome Zelda-Themed Case
One case to Hyrule them all
It's hardly going to rock your world to learn we're quite the fans of all things Hyrulian here at Nintendo Life, so when we got word of a super-rad smartphone case with a serious case of the Zeldas you can imagine our barely contained excitement. Okay, so technically it's only available in Japan at the moment (come on,...
News Grow Your Very Own Ecosystem With Birthdays The Beginning On Switch
Evolution: The Game
You've got to give developers Arc System Works and TOYBOX Inc some props because not many studios would attempt to gamify the entire process of evolution, but that's exactly what they've done with the Switch-bound Birthdays The Beginning. Set to arrive in Japan in March, the Yasuhiro Wada led project combines the world building...
News Japanese Publication Nintendo Dream Surpasses Nintendo Power In Issue Count
Dreams never end
Two-hundred eighty-five. If that number holds any special meaning to you, then you were likely a lifetime follower of the American official Nintendo magazine Nintendo Power. While other magazines, namely Famitsu, have had longer runs and more issues multiple times over, Nintendo Power always held the spot as the longest-lived...
News Burnout Paradise HD Remaster Confirmed For PS4, But Where Does That Leave Switch?
Could we see it confirmed at the next Nintendo Direct?
Following speculation that it would be remastering one of the best open-world driving games ever made, EA has confirmed that Burnout Paradise HD Remaster (that's a tentative title currently) will hit PlayStation 4 in Japan on March 16th, costing 4,104 Yen. Given the Xbox One's dire...
News Switch Has Beaten The PlayStation 2's Year-One Sales In Japan
Just shy of 3.3 million consoles sold, to the PS2's 3 million
The Nintendo Switch is selling incredibly well worldwide, and Nintendo has made bold predictions based on this amazing first year, with 20 million consoles predicted to be sold in the next financial year alone. That might seem like a bold projection, but consider this - the Switch has...
Random This Could Well Be The Silliest Nintendo Switch Accessory Yet
'Comfortable Hands Free Stand' will work wonders for your street cred
We've seen some crazy third party accessories for the Nintendo Switch so far, with 'The Switch Visor' being one of our favourites for lazy players. However, the 'Comfortable Hands Free Stand' as spotted by eagle eyed game developer Jake Kazdal in Japan might take the...
December2017
News Nintendo Switch Continues to Dominate in Japan
Over a quarter of a million sales in one week
We may be in the middle of the Holidays, but we still have the Media Create results to show us what's hot - and what's not - in Japan. Unsurprisingly, Nintendo's latest system is continuing to fly off the shelves. Before we get to that, though, we have the software results to look at, and the number one...
News 'Cycle Across Kanto' Aims To Document The Real-Life World Of Pokémon
Pedal power
Here's a fun looking Kickstarter to start your day with. "Cycle Across Kanto" - if successfully funded - is going to be a 40-day, feature-length documentary taking the first-ever cinematic journey through the real-life world of Pokémon. It's no secret that the fictional lands found in various Pokémon games over the years are...
News Nintendo Switch Picks Up Incredible Sales in Japan to Continue Its Strong Run
Yo-kai Watch Busters 2 makes its debut at number one
It's no surprise to hear that the Switch is already close to overtaking the lifetime sales of the Wii U, even if it's a statistic that'll always be harsh on the last-gen system. Nintendo's hybrid console is hot stuff right now and that's especially the case in Japan, where the latest Media Create...
News Switch Set To Overtake Wii U In Japan After Less Than A Year On Sale
230,000 consoles sold in the last week alone
The Switch is close to surpassing the total lifetime sales of the Wii U in Japan after less than a year on sale, according to Famitsu. Last week, Nintendo's console sold 230,000 units in Japan, bringing its total in that region to 2,988,399 units. It launched on March 3rd this year. At the last count,...
News SaGa Series Director Says We Could See Other Entries Get Localised
"We plan on continuing to release titles overseas in the future"
The recent release of Romancing SaGa 2 on consoles in the west is quite significant, as the game was never published outside of Japan at the time of its original launch. The high cost of localising such a massive RPG will no doubt have put Square Enix off the idea in the past, but...
News Super Mario Odyssey Is Japan's Fastest-Selling 3D Mario Outing
More than a million copies sold in 8 weeks
Super Mario Odyssey is Japan's best-selling 3D Mario game, according to recent sales figures from Famitsu. The Switch epic has sold 1,055,806 copies in its homeland after just 8 weeks on sale, putting it above the likes of Super Mario 3D Land (1,042,511 in the same time period) and Super Mario Galaxy 2...
News WorldNeverland: Elnea Kingdom is Coming to Switch Next Year
Simulation and RPG combined
According to the latest issue of Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu, WorldNeverland: Elnea Kingdom will be released on Nintendo Switch in Spring 2018. The game was originally released on iOS and Android stores in 2015 and aims to act as a simulation of a living society. With hints of RPG gameplay elements also involved,...
News Loads Of Rare Zelda Amiibo Are Available Right Now From Amazon Japan
It supports internaional shipping, too
It's the holiday season, so if course it's time to indulge your own needs while you should really be buying those last few gifts for your friends and family. And what better way to 'treat yo'self' than filling in the gaps in your amiibo collection? And oh look, Amazon Japan has just restocked its supplies of...
News Some Japanese Gamers Aren't Happy About Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection
Including Hideki Kamiya
The fact that we're getting a compendium of every Street Fighter game should be cause for celebration, but in Japan some fans are less than happy about the upcoming 30th Anniversary Collection. The problem stems from the fact that Capcom is using the "international" versions of each game. In the small print relating to the...
News These Lovely Smartphone Cases Are Now Available Via My Nintendo, But Only In Japan
Japan continues to get the good stuff
Lucky Japanese gamers will soon able to pick up a series of charming smartphone cases from My Nintendo. They will cost 50 Gold points each. The Limited Pochi Bag has a 8bit Mario design and is free, you just need to pay the postage. Reasonable! The Smartphone Cases have a 30% discount with...
News Nintendo Switch is Still Number One in the Japanese Charts
Holds off the challenge of Monster Hunter: World PS4 Pro model
It's the middle of the week, which means we get an updated look at what's hot and what's not in Japan; though the software charts have new challengers to Nintendo games, hardware is still very much the dominion of a certain hybrid system. Kicking off with software, two new releases on...
News Kirby And Friends Are Getting Some Super Cute Big Chinned-Gachapon Toys
Think Funko Pop Vinyls only with huge jawlines
Funko isn't the only company turning your most beloved characters into oversized caricatures. Over in Japan, gachapon maker Panda no Ana has been making a name for itself with Shakurel Planet - a range of toy-capsules that contain miniature animals with oversized jaws - and it's now turned its attention...
News Nintendo Switch Ends 2017 On A High With 2.5 Million Units Sold In Japan Alone
One handheld console to rule them all
Nintendo Switch hasn't even rounded off its first year and it's already hit another huge milestone, selling a staggering 2.5 million units in Japan so far. Now, that's a lot of people playing Switch on the way to work. The figures were released as part of the regular Media Create report, which shows the latest...
News We Can't Ignore The Switch, Says Sony's Head Of Corporate Planning
Nintendo's system has "captured consumers' attention"
To say that the Switch is selling incredibly well worldwide would be a massive understatement, but in Japan it is particularly dominant, regularly topping both the hardware and software charts. This isn't lost on Sony, which is Nintendo's only genuine rival in its home region. In an interview...
News Pokémon, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and Nintendo Switch Lead the Way in Japanese Charts
Monolith Soft's title beats launch sales of predecessors
It's that time, once again, for the Japanese Media Create charts. They make for some interesting reading this week, with the release of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 being of particular interest. Monolith Soft's title had a pretty decent launch on Switch, securing second place behind Pokémon Ultra...
News Get Those Vocal Cords Ready, Joysound Karaoke Is Coming To Switch
And it works with your Wii U microphone!
It's time to dust off those mics and get those vocal cords ready, because Nintendo has confirmed that Joysound is coming to the Switch as a free download on the Japanese eShop. Like the Wii U version, the game will grant access to 140,000 songs which can be played using timed tickets. ¥324 gets you 3 hours...
Random Check Out This Japanese Guide to Classic LCD Games
Yes, that includes Game & Watch
There are lots of gamers out there who seem to love physical media. Whenever a digital-only game gets a sudden print run on card or disc, people go crazy! Also, plenty of gamers love books - especially books on games. There have been countless tomes released over the last few years; practically every topic has been...
Video Here's How You Play Switch Drumming Game Gal Metal
Waggle to the beat
Gal Metal launches early next year, and DMM Games has released a new trailer which shows how the game's drumming mechanics work. As you can see, the aim is to shake the JoyCon controllers in time with the music - as you perform, a group of 3D characters jam out. Rawk. Gal Metal is scheduled for launch in Japan on February 8th,...
Video Street Fighter II Transformers Get An Awesome Promo Trailer
Just in case you didn't think the idea was cool enough already
A few days ago we reported on the news that Takara Tomy is set to release a special range of Street Fighter-themed Transformer toys, each one representing a character from Capcom's famous one-on-one series. The company has now released a special trailer for the line which, somehow,...
Weirdness Pikachu Is Now A Cultural Ambassador For The City Of Osaka
Don't worry, they've got some actual humans involved too
Pikachu - the world's most famous Pocket Monster - has been made a Cultural Ambassador for the City of Osaka. No, you're not dreaming. Foreign Minister of Japan Tarō Kōno presented Pikachu with the position at a ceremony recently. Hello Kitty (but of course!) was also given...
November2017
News Nintendo Switch Hardware Sales Reach Another Level in Japan
It's taking off
With the middle of the week coming around it's time for the Media Create chart results in Japan. It was a week with a number of new releases, but it's the Switch hardware sales that really catch the eye. We'll start off with software as we normally do, and this week sees Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon unsurprisingly...
News Nintendo Tops Toyo Keizai's List Of Japan's Richest Companies, While Sony Is Fourth
Jump up, Super Star!
Japanese business publication Toyo Keizai has released its list of the 500 richest companies in Japan, and Nintendo has come out on top. Nintendo has a whopping 946 billion Yen in net cash reserves, and is - as we know - currently raking it in thanks to the incredibly successful Switch. Nintendo's closest rival in the video...
News Nintendo Launches Some Charming Festive Switch Commercials in Japan
Happy times
We're into the final few weeks before the festive season - that's another month of shopping before some much needed downtime to wrap up the year. Nintendo's had a fantastic 2017 with the launch of the Switch, and is naturally hoping to finish it strongly. Perhaps due to the different shopping habits in Japan - some of the biggest...
News We're A Little Bit In Love With These ARMS Mobile Phone Keychains
Only in Japan, of course
In the next thrilling instalment of "Japan gets all the cool stuff", we have these amazing mobile phone keychains (not sure if it's even accurate to call them that, but we were stumped on any other description) based on weapons from ARMS, which is officially 2017's most underrated video game (OK, semi-officially). Produced...
Japan - Features
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