Japanese Charts: Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Debuts In First, Switch Sales Go From Bad To Worse

Well, at least they're cleaning out all their overstock of Switch Lite.

It's that stinkin' coronavirus affecting the Switch's success.

not gonna lie tho

this Mystery Dungeon remake is a boring game to focus on with Animal Crossing coming in 9 days

Ouch...! 😫
Let's pray for the world so Corona virus epidemic will be over and everybody stay healthy, business will run smoothly again.

Is this stock situation mainly affecting Japan, or is it hitting other countries? I haven't heard about anything in the US, and problems like stock shortages usually become pretty well known.

Either way, I hope this situation blows over soon. Also, I hope Nintendo looks into other places to manufacture their systems, if only so that if one place has issues, they have some sort of backup.

I know the virus has caused production issues, but it also probably doesn’t help that Nintendo has been so quiet about this year’s line-up.

@GetShulked There has been speculation that Nintendo's been quiet specifically because of the virus. I still agree, but things wouldn't have gone south this badly on their own.

@link3710 Hopefully, Nintendo would learn by now that if given a chance, people would buy a more powerful Switch vs a less powerful one. Bring out the Switch Pro now!

Over 50,000 with the switch and switch lite combined, how's that bad? Japan loves their portables so of course the lite is going to sell more do to its size

@playstation_king No, the last two weeks are the first two weeks since the Lite launched that it sold more than the standard one in Japan. Typically it sells around 30-40% of the normal Switch, and the combined total is over 100k. This is a serious and unexpected drop, especially with Animal Crossing right around the corner.

@Investor9872 Uh... there's no way they're bringing out a Switch Pro. They don't even have the ability to manufacture enough normal Switches. If anything, the current parts shortage has just delayed the pro out another year.

Got a feeling the new consoles won't be much better when they release. I expect limited quantities if they even hit this year at this rate. Nintendo just has so much Lite stock still on the shelves and soon that will be gone.

@playstation_king it's bad because up until a month ago the regular switch was selling 50,000 to 70,000 units per week. Comfortably outselling the switch lite by 30,000 to 50,000 units per week.

Which obviously isn't the case anymore. The hike in switch lite sales isn't enough to make up for the overall loss of sales due to production problems.

Wouldn’t people play more and buy more games if they are stuck at home due to the virus?

Welp, Switch Lite has proven useful for the brand in a way few would imagine. Is it manufactured elsewhere or something?

@BenAV Xbox shouldn’t even bother in Japan 😂 they probably lose money by Releasing it there

For a GBA/DS spin-off remake, that’s impressive for Pokémon Mystery Dungeon DX

@Anti-Matter It is a Pandemic but ya hopefully it is over before more industries are screwed over.

As is to be expected from a pandemic that's best fought by staying at home. Counting the Switch as a purely home-based console, it sadly has objectively no chance against Xbox One and PlayStation 4. As far as people's necessities go, the need to stay at home could only end up doing a number on the Switch.

They are still in the lead and with an understandable strain on consumer spending I still say these are good numbers.

@Investor9872
That would be an extremely obtuse move
If they are struggling with main console shortages, they will drown trying to put out a new one at this moment.
Unfortunately, things will be quiet until summer, when Corona virus is expected to recede and it will take them a little while to get back to "normal" in regards of manufacturing.
This is a blessing in disguise, as they are able to get rid of the overstock of Lites

@Dman10
There are many people who earn no money if they stay home so no

@BenAV Best comment ever!

But still I do love my Xbox

I think there mad cause It was short like the game story should of done sky just saying

Paid off my Animal Crossing Switch console in-store so I can just walk in and pick up on Friday. Here's hoping those won't have any stock issues for pre-orders. Regardless I'm still going right as soon as the store opens to get mine!

Becuase, what's even coming after ACNH?
Give us the Direct. Show us that you have some future releases.

This is the lowest the standard Switch has ever sold in any week by far.

Launch sales of previous PMD games:
> Super Mystery Dungeon: 168,471
> Gates to Infinity: 121,480
> Explorers of Sky: 142,000
> Explorers of Time/Darkness: 568,888
> Red/Blue Rescue Team: 237,000

If you include digital sales, Rescue Team DX should have the biggest launch in the series since Explorers of Time/Darkness.

@glorymade you never played a dungeon crawler before, have you?

Everyone still seems to think there is some kind of switch pro on the horizon. The lite will be out for at least two years before they announce new hardware methinks. Also they’ve de confirmed it at least twice. However I do think it’s possible they will have a paid upgrade that you will need to run Zelda. Something tells me that Zelda ain’t comin easy

@KyoDrago are you confirming that Pokémon mystery dungeon is boring. It is really boring

@Crockin
Breath of the Wild 2 isnt going to be a Switch Pro exclusive.

@westman98 well no, there is t really a switch pro. Not out of the question that the game will require some kind of paid upgrade, peripheral, or launches with next gen though. Not saying this will happen, but botw sales tells Nintendo that Zelda is still extremely valuable, and people will do anything to play it

@Crockin not confirming it, in fact I say it's a really good game, I've been playing pmd since its first release and never felt bored while playing it, exploring multiple dungeons, going through really emotional stories, listening to some really good music and helping others. ppl can say it's a boring game, that's ok, usually with pmd is either you love it or hate it and I know that ppl that see igns review of the game immidiately say it's a crappy game cuz of their review that's basically "too many dungeons - 6/10", but you do you, I just don't really like ppl that say they don't like the games cuz they are expecting it to be something like the main series or whatever

Cracks me up that the 3DS still sales more units each week than the XBOX ONE. I still very much love my 3DS. If the Switch Light would have had a clam shell built in and play all 3DS games, I would have bought one in a heart beat.

@Crockin
Breath of the Wild 2 requiring a "next gen" accessory to play is even less likely than it being a Switch Pro exclusive.

It will be an upgrade over Breath of the Wild 1 simply off of the fact that it isnt being developed with the Wii U in mind.

@westman98 Again, not saying this is how it will go down, just a hunch. why is it so hard for you to conceive of Nintendo doing that?

@KyoDrago you can like it, that’s fine, but liking or knowing about the dungeon crawler genre is definitely not a prerequisite to playing this game, as it’s very simple. I played it when it first came out and thought it was boring and kinda plain. That’s it

@Crockin
Becasue Nintendo has never released an accessory that serves to enhance the specs of their hardware or developed games that run exclusively on said accessory.

I own two Switch Lites and a basic Switch in my bedroom... I don’t think the Big N is hurting for money, y’all.

@westman98 Majora required the n64 expansion pack, and wii motion plus was required for skyward sword. So ya, they’ve actually required a peripheral at least twice with Zelda.

And now that I think of it, every mainline Zelda from majora on has either required a new peripheral or at very least encouraged you to buy the new hardware

Not a single switch model at the target where i live in the US. Just a bunch of Lites. But I don't want a lite! Lol.

My understanding is that the switch lite has a different supply chain, possibly not made in China at all. So it's sales are less effected.

And regarding sales - a lot of people in Japan are all quarantining. Digital sales will now be going through the roof. I'm surprised physical sales are even this high.

@Crockin
I'll give you the N64 expansion pack, but Wii Motion Plus didn't exactly increase the strength of the Wii hardware. Nintendo isnt very interested in motion controls anymore.

Anyways, I'm very doubtful Nintendo will follow a business model that contributed to the 2 lowest-selling mainline Zelda games in the franchise.

@westman98 when I say peripheral, that can be hardware, controllers, whatever. It’s just feeling I get about this game. I think it’s gonna be really big, and people would most definitely buy something alongside it be it a system update, controller, accessory etc to get access to it. Just lookin at their routine

Only 20000 lifetime of each xbox ones sold? Seriously? Can that be right?
@PharoneTheGnome
Exactly. Me too.

@Crockin
If Nintendo is going to make games that require an accesory, it'll be a cheap and low-risk new IP like Labo or Ring Fit Adventure rather than the sequel to one of their most ambitious and critically acclaimed games ever.

@Anti-Matter hear hear! Stay safe out there, everyone!

@westman98 we could go around and around with this, but I think you give them too much credit here. We’ll know soon or later

@Crockin
Nintendo locking the sequel to a massive critically-acclaimed blockbuster behind a hardware peripheral is very slim.

Let's not forget that Ring Fit Adventure has been facing severe supply issues even prior to COVID-19. A mandatory peripheral for Breath of the Wild 2 would face even worse supply issues since demand for that game will be 10x greater than demand for Ring Fit Adventure.

@Kabloop Well the idea is obviously that it would be something you’d want to buy, and that the game is great.

again, this is not not some crackpot theory, and I’m not saying they would definitely do it. Nintendo has been known to do this, whether it’s a new console, a controller, accessory. The fact that it’s a sequel has zero bearing on the notion. BOTW sales shows them that people will want access to the game no matter the cost. Business is booming, so it’s actually pretty likely imo. Or they don’t. I definitely don’t care if you agree, but it’s certainly not a stretch

You can't sell what's not there.

The switch lite sold 50k. Thats not bad at all. Japan prefers handhelds. PC gaming is getting big there too.

@AlexSora89,

The masses do not care about power so the console has a great chance against these two, and their new consoles, from the core minorities point of view it has no chance, I agree with you there.

I haven’t developed a Nintendo game for a long time now so god knows what’s going on backstage. People in the biz used to be so loose lipped lol. QA people at networking events were the worst for it! Crazy times! Nobody cared about NDAs!

Nowadays nobody leaks that kind of info. I reckon most folk are desperate to hold onto jobs and curry favour with bosses.

Oh what was I getting at? Yeah. Tenner bet there’s the Switch Pro finally out later this year. Ages ago there were very strong internal industry rumors about Switch pro. Reps informing people to be prepared for a bump in specs but with backwards compatibility. (This was 1.5 years ago and resulted in people simply holding onto larger quality assets just to be ready). Hm

How come Ring Fit Adventure is in the chart, and I STILL can't find a copy for a reasonable price? Even Amazon's limited preorders are above the recommended retail price...