April has been a pretty quiet month on the Nintendo front, and that seems to have reflected in the sales across Europe. In the latest GSD data for the previous month, there was a 15% drop in console sales in the month of April compared to March — excluding the UK and Germany.
However, this drop in sales didn't stop Nintendo from being number one, as the Switch is still the biggest selling console for the seventh month in a row, closely followed by the PlayStation 5, which reported its best month ever. Accessories also suffered a drop of 19%, and online store credit slipped 24% down in sales.
In terms of game sales, the biggest new release is TT Games' LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, which has also become the fifth biggest-selling game of 2022 in Europe. Nintendo Switch Sports, despite launching at the end of the month, charted in fourth — and if digital sales were included, it may have been even higher.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is still doing pretty well, slipping from fifth to sixth, but now outselling the previous Switch title - Kirby Star Allies — across the continent. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe hopped back into the top ten as well, perhaps as more people picked up the game for the season pass?
However, overall game sales dropped by 24%, with a 29% decline in digital sales (among 30 countries) and an 18% drop in physical media (among 16 countries).
The full European top 20 chart for April is just below. As always, anything with an asterisk means that digital sales figures aren't included.
Position | Title |
1 | LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (Warner Bros) |
---|---|
2 | Elden Ring (Bandai Namco) |
3 | FIFA 22 (EA) |
4 | Nintendo Switch Sports (Nintendo)* |
5 | Grand Theft Auto V (Rockstar) |
6 | Kirby and the Forgotten Land (Nintendo)* |
7 | Gran Turismo 7 (Sony) |
8 | Mario Kart 8: Deluxe (Nintendo)* |
9 | Horizon Forbidden West (Sony) |
10 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus (Nintendo)* |
11 | WWE 2K22 (2K Games) |
12 | Red Dead Redemption 2 (Rockstar) |
13 | F1 2021 (EA) |
14 | Minecraft: Switch Edition (Mojang)* |
15 | NBA 2K22 (2K Games) |
16 | Mario Party Superstars (Nintendo)* |
17 | Football Manager 2022 (Sega) |
18 | Big Brain Academy: Brain vs Brain (Nintendo)* |
19 | Call of Duty: Vanguard (Activision Blizzard) |
20 | The Last of Us: Part 2 (Sony) |
May looks like an even quieter month for the Switch, so perhaps the steady momentum of Nintendo Switch Sports will keep the console near the top? This is all the calm before the storm, though, as June and July look jam-packed. Stay tuned.
[source gamesindustry.biz]
Comments 35
I feel like Nintendo has to be fairly happy about Kirby and the Forgotten Land's sales.
Wow, Switch sports being 4th with it releasing on April 29th is pretty impressive.
Feel like it’s been a slow year for gaming, maybe still feeling Covid impact, hopefully we get some real killer games before end of year. For the love of God please release Advance Wars!
Big Brain Acadamy seems a sleeper hit.
Looks like all the backlash against Switch Sports, from all those Nintendo fans, has had little effect on the games sales.
Now just waiting for the inevitable "Celebrating mediocrity" comments.
@quinnyboy58 it definitely has been slow. Everything is getting delayed and now Xbox doesn't even have any exclusives this year either. PS had Horizon and maybe(?) God of War this year.
Nintendo seems to be the only one releasing games
This is So Incredible! At this Rate, Nintendo Switch will outsell the gameboy/gameboy color THIS YEAR for sure!
@johnvboy
"Looks like all the backlash against Switch Sports, from all those loyal Nintendo fans, has had little effect on the games sales."
What does that even mean?
People are allowed to be critical of Nintendo games, especially bare bones efforts. You can be a massive Nintendo fan whilst not being a sycophant.
@KindofaBigDeal,
It was merely a suggestion that all the moaning makes very little difference, of course you and others are free to complain all you want, that's your right, and it's all just subjective opinions at the end of the day.
Surely my comment was not all that difficult to understand, the Switch sports game does exactly what it was supposed to do, very happy with it so far, and got it for a very cheap price too, can't wait for golf to be added, but more than enough to keep me occupied.
@johnvboy
"from all those loyal Nintendo fans"
This here suggests if you are not fawning all over the game then you aren't loyal (although why I would be loyal to a videogame company in the first place is beyond me).
Did you mean something different?
Super impressive Switch Sports is in the top 5 despite only being on the market in April for a couple days. Overall, several Nintendo titles in the top 20, you love to see it.
@KindofaBigDeal,
You have no reason to be loyal to Nintendo at all, I was suggesting the complainers seem to present themselves as loyal Nintendo fans, and are only moaning to make Nintendo try harder.
When I said loyal, I suppose I was suggesting long term in some way.
@johnvboy
If people want to be loyal then so be it (there is something quite sad about that though, we are the paying customers after all).
I love my Nintendo consoles and games but if they make a game that is a bit lacking I will state that, and if the game ends up selling millions it doesn't change how I feel about the game and certainly isn't a "win" for people with opposing views unless they are pocketing a slice of the profits. Switch Sports was always going to be a hit in the casual market, same as Fifa, same as CoD, same as Assassin's Creed etc. A quick look at those titles suggests sales doesn't always equal quality so referencing a game selling well doesn't actually count for that much.
@KindofaBigDeal,
You can be a fan of a company, or in some way loyal to it, and at the same time still be critical of some of it's decisions etc.
My main issue with all this is some present their own personal views as somehow objective, when it all personal subjective views good or bad. Sales as you say do not equate to quality or satisfaction, but they do not definitively mean that people that bought a game did not like it either, or indeed the game is objectively bad, as again it's down to ones own personal view.
As I said the game is great for a simple motion sports game, and brings Wii sports/ Wii Sports club to a potentially new audience, the controls are good as is the online, and the game looks nice.... nos sure what more we needed, yes more event would be nice, but pretty sure they are coming.
@johnvboy
It is all personally subjective, but when people brag about the sales of the game suggesting those other people are therefore wrong it is also an example of people acting like they are objectively right, which I suggest is what you were doing.
@NintendoEternity I’d say it’s almost a guarantee. I think there’s a chance it’ll take down DS and PS2 in the end too, even with inevitably slowing momentum beyond this financial year.
@KindofaBigDeal,
My comment was simple, good or bad the games sales have not been affected by the naysayers,
@johnvboy
So you accept talking about the sales is pointless then as it does not prove whether a game is good or bad and therefore should not be used as a stick to beat those who have issues with the game.
Also what do you mean when you say naysayers? Has anyone said the game will fail commercially?
@KindofaBigDeal,
There is always a suggestion a game will not perform that well as a certain minority do not like it, as they feel everybody must have the same concerns as they do, this has happened many times with the Pokemon franchise as a perfect example of this.
Not beating anyone with my comment, just an opinion as to people who do not like certain games, justifying their dislike by stating sales do not equate to quality, and in essence hinting that the people who buy these titles are not as demanding as they are, so therefore good sales are somehow meaningless.
Never had an issue with people not liking a certain game, but most times it's the way they state things as if they were facts no opinions, and sales and reviews to some extent is another way of doing this, as again it's suggested using other games as examples, C.O.D for instance, as proof lots of people buy bad games, when in reality it's many people buying a game that they dislike personally.
And that's even before we consider how niche these views are in the first place.
Removed - flaming/arguing
Removed - flaming/arguing
@johnvboy
Yikes you took that thick! Well the truth hurts I suppose.
Bottom line is high sales do not equal high quality.
@KindofaBigDeal,
I don't think you take the truth well, not sure who reported the argument, but it was not me, I was ready to continue for ages.
And also people complaining does not mean games are objectively bad, apart form on a personal level, so good sales could mean good quality based on one's own personal viewpoint.
Although in cases like this, people always fall back on the old "Sales do not equate to quality" line, rather than face the possibility their own personal concerns are not shared by a wider audience, and their views are very niche.
@johnvboy
Mate no game is objectively good or bad, it will always be subjective. Always.
People who have issues with the game aren't using the sales of the game as a stick to beat others with. You and others have been which is pointless because a game's sales do not reflect how good a game actually is. I cite Cyberpunk 2077 again as a pretty good example.
That is it in a nutshell.
Also you said your comment was flippant but you seem keen to say it in every sales article, it's sad.
@KindofaBigDeal,
Not sure why my comment bothered you so much, as it was not aimed at you in the first place, surely you need to take a step back and not let these small matters upset you.
@johnvboy
I have made my point.
That you and others feel the need to keep pointing out the game's sales in a futile attempt to belittle people with issues with the game suggests you all need to take the step back and not let others who have a different opinion of the game annoy you so much.
@KindofaBigDeal,
As I said my remark was flippant, I never let other people annoy me on a video game comment section or any other forum for that matter.
And as I have said many times, I have very little issue with people not liking these games, but rather the way some state their case, which works both ways as you suggested.
@johnvboy
Fair do's.
@KindofaBigDeal,
And I do get your points too, perhaps in retrospect my comment was a little too close to the bone, but it was in all honesty a little bit tongue in cheek.
I guess my main issue is I just want everyone to enjoy these games, and I will admit games like Switch Sports do get a little bit more leniency from me, as I just want a simple pick up and play game to enjoy with my family, and of course more content is always welcome, but up to now we have been having a blast with it.
No hard feelings by the way.
@johnvboy
All good, I like a healthy argument!
I also got no problem with people enjoying the game, be boring if everyone liked the same thing.
@KindofaBigDeal,
Without a doubt, and it's such a good time to be a video game fan, I have my Switch and a Series X, and to be honest have nowhere near as much time to devote to them.
My movie addiction sees to that.
https://www.blu-ray.com/community/gallery.php?member=jonmoz&folderid=905
@johnvboy
Most impressive!
@KindofaBigDeal,
Thanks,
When I look at the picture with my Switch two things strike me, was the bezel on the original model really that big, and was my Animal crossing island that bare... need to update it with my OLED Switch.
@johnvboy
The OLED Switch is a good looking bit of kit!
@KindofaBigDeal,
Just looks and feels more premium.
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