Splatoon 3 Becomes The Fastest Selling Nintendo Switch Game In Japan

Splatoon 3 is the fastest-selling game ever in Japan.

The previous record was held by Animal Crossing New Horizons, which sold somewhere in the ballpark of 2.5-2.7 million copies at launch in Japan (retail + digital). Splatoon 3 very comfortably beat that record.

And for all those asking why we got a Splatoon 3 when the system has Splatoon 2 already...do you now see why?

Well, kudos for splatoon 3.
But I have interest on other games.

Holy crap, that’s insane! Glad too see a game franchise that people were kind of confused by when it was first announced go toe to toe with Nintendo’s biggest series.

I personally don’t understand the appeal of this game.

I really like that the home of Mario and Pokemon and Zelda took a risk on something new and it’s now sitting comfortably next to them in terms of importance. Hopefully they’ll take more risks like this going forward (which I suppose they have with Arms and Ringfit etc.

@Anti-Matter oooh, that’s insightful! What, do tell, are these other games do you have interest on? Perhaps you sharing the titles here may help propel their sales to 3.45 million units! 😀

@Don what are you missing in the game that would be fun to you? Not your genre?

The game is extremely fun and addicting!

@Friendly probably my genre is rpg games so i find no appeal in splatoon at all..

@Ogbert Yep. I couldn't resist picking up Splatoon 3 on friday since I got a good deal in the store for 45 bucks.

Though, I kind of regret it, as I burned out real quick.
Splatoon 3 simply just doesn't bring much new to the table over Splatoon 2.

So I just don't see how this was justified and why they couldn't have released it as a new DLC/expansion for Splatoon 2. /shrug

I seem to remember having a discussion with someone on here the other week before the presentation. They said:

"Nintendo is worried about Splatoon 3 success.
And Nintendo needs to be really worried."

I seem to remember it being top of Famitsu's Most Wanted for a very long time. Once again the expert analysis in the comments amounted to zip.

Love the game. I really liked Splatoon 2, so this was a no brainer for me. Great sequel. The made the right things better compared to Splatoon 2. Nice work.

I love this game, totally worth every penny!

Splatoon franchise has to be the most impressive growth I've ever seen of any video game series in Japan.

Launch sales went from <200,000 for Splatoon 1 to <800,000 for Splatoon 2 to 3.45 million for Splatoon 3.

@westman98 True, but the console install base has to be taken into account. They were so few WiiU in total, and not much more Switches when the second launched. Every stars were aligned for the third, with an unprecedented install base for almost any Nintendo consoles besides the DS...

No shock here. Just a few months ago a 10,000 person survey in the largest gaming magazine in Japan put Splatoon 2 as #1 video game ... OF ALL TIME.

Japanize people love Splatoon is the new German people love David Hasselhoff.

But being serious ... it's on TV every weekend and the second most watched sport need to Baseball. There are magazines that follow pro players. The open qualifiers for the last Splatoon 2 event had 4400 teams. This isn't a game any more, it's a movement.

Great result but in what world is 4.95 million sales modest?

"Although the first entry sold modest numbers"

In context, it sold 4.95m to a user base of just 13.5m. 6th best-selling game on Wii U. That's extremely impressive.

I told yall it was going to be BIG. My first Splatoon game. I know the rest of the world is impressive too! 😎 💯

Splatoon 3 was always going to sell crazy(despite what a few folks on here thought), but over 3M in three days in Japan alone?! That's nuts. Didn't think New Horizons' record would've been broken. For those questioning why this game exists and wasn't just DLC, you have your answer.

The haters were wrong!?!? Go figure. I can't wait for their hottakes on the next Nintendo exclusive game.

I'm holding off on getting 3 until I can finish the story mode in the first two games (and the Octo expansion).

Well deserved. I'm loving it.

Also, what? Splatoon 1 had great sales, all things considered.

@Jeronan "So I just don't see how this was justified and why they couldn't have released it as a new DLC/expansion for Splatoon 2. /shrug"

A - it doesn't need any "justification" it's product they chose to make and people can choose whether or not they wish to purchase it. The notion that developers have to justify what they make is toxic and entitled.

B - it would not have sold as much as DLC and people would have expected it free with Switch Online Expansion Pack

C - if you burnt out on it as a new game you'd have burnt out on it as DLC.

D - "Splatoon 3 has surpassed an extraordinary 3.45 million units sold within the first three days domestically. This includes both physical and digital copies of the game."

It's absolutely fine if you don't like it, burnt out on it, or simply didn't think it was worth it to you. But you are owed no justification for it's existence. I'd suggested waiting for the planned updates to see if they reignite your passion for it or selling your copy of 2 and 3 and moving on. Let the rest of us enjoy it and hopefully you'll have something else you can enjoy in the mean time.

I told a guy on IGN that this game would sell at least 10M in one year. He said it wouldn't. Guess I was right... Lol. 😎 That's probably going to be around 4 million in 7 days in Japan alone. At least 2 million in North America week one. At least a million in Europe. That's estimated 7 million worldwide in a week. Maybe even more. I personally know multiple people who bought the physical and digital copy (in USA) because their pre order didn't arrive Day 1. 😎

Wow that’s mad such massive figures.

I guess Japan is full of kids and squids. Great sales!

@Outerdragon Absolutely! It's a massive phenomenon. Bigger than even Pokémon launches on Switch in Japan. Splatoon is not joking around anymore. 😂 Haha

given the state of the world when ACNH released, sploon3 beating its record is mad impressive

@BartoxTharglod Yep, I remember everything that was said about Splatoon 3. Everything. Haha Now watch how well it sells in the rest of the world. 😎

"Should've been DLC"

"I am not going to buy Splatoon 2.5"

"Why is this even a new game?"

"It's Splatoon 2.5"

Here you all see WHY Nintendo released Splatoon 3.

They're now thinking how soon they can get Splatoon 4 out without feeling like they are milking the cash cow too hard.
Not bought it yet. Thinking I will fire up the Wii U and play through the original campaign that I never got round to and hold off until Christmas for this one. Not like the online community will be dead by then.

Guess that shows nintendo knows better than their fans.

@h15c0r3r I love ARMS and agree with the 9 awarded to it by Edge Magazine!

@sanderev Don't forget....

"It's not going to sell like Splatoon 2....."

Splatoon 3 is my first Splatoon full game. I guess they weren't thinking about gamers like me... 😂 I'm loving it. 💕

I suppose the upcoming Breath of the Wild sequel should’ve just been a DLC expansion according to some people. Really odd that people keep beating this drum.

I’ve played Splatoon 3, it easily justifies its existence and I have absolutely zero regrets buying it. I’m having a whale of a time.

@Cakefish I wish I see these Splatoon 3 nay sayers say anything negative about the sequel to Breath Of The Wild. It's going to sell 30 million+. Easy. 😎

Some of the same wrong people are still not admitting they were wrong last week talking all that smack... Lol. Splatoon 3 whooped yall a$$es. 😎

That means Splatoon was purchased by over 3% of the entire population of the country.

That's an insane launch. I knew Splatoon was big in Japan but these numbers prove it's bigger than Pokemon and Animal Crossing at the moment.

You nay sayers who want to keep playing Splatoon on Wii U until 2030, go right ahead. Lol Won't stop Splatoon 3's massive success. 😎 💯

I love how they managed to work our old friend Jon Cartwright into the article lol

Who knew that a franchise that started out on a failing console now has a crazy successful third installment?

Those are mind blowing numbers. 3.5 million in 3 days in one country?

The game has likely cracked 7-8 million globally in just 3 days. Splatoon 3 might be a 20+ million seller before its all done and over with.

@HeadPirate "Japanese people love Splatoon is the new Germans Love David Hasselfhoff" I get what you're trying to go for, but the "Germans Love Hasselhoff" trope is for media that's more popular OUTSIDE of its home country, which Splatoon certainly isn't. I don't believe its a trope for a piece of media to be more popular in its country of origin than elsewhere, but I could be wrong. That said, it is staggering just how much more popular Splatoon is in Japan than anywhere else. Puts Yo-Kai Watch to shame really.

@Ryan_Again I think it is just under 3% (I used 3.45/125), which is still very impressive

@BartoxTharglod oh, I remember them posting it. Lol

I didn't remember you predicted that, but right is right.

Games that allow for multiple players and is fun will always garner more top listing that's not surprising. Did anyone expect otherwise.

i was under the impression that rpg games were the most favorite genre of japanese gamers i guess not..

@Friendly
I played the original on the Wii U and from what I recall you just run around shooting paint.

@Don people have different tastes. I’m sure there are people that don’t get the appeal of your favorite games.

@Don it’s an incredible tactical and deep game if you want to though.

Those guys really love their squid kids. I bet we only got a sequel this soon because of how obsessed the Japanese audience is with it.

@Don Lots of people only think there’s just Turf War. But In Anarchy Battles (ranked mode) you get variants on common shooter modes like Domination (Splat Zones), Payload (Tower Control), Capture the Flag (Rainmaker), plus Clam Blitz (I got no comparison on that), and then there’s the co-op horde mode (Salmon Run). People also forget about the single player campaign, too. But this is pretty much all the modes until they drop some new ones later for this numbered release.

It's my first Splatoon, I sunk 20 hours in over the weekend, the wonderfully crafted single player campaign ALONE is worth full price imo, I can't wait to dive in the multiplayer modes with my friends

I'm not surprised at all. Splatoon 3 has been Nintendo's most anticipated game for years. It really does feel like Nintendo tried to listen to their fans as well, with some of the additions in Sploon 3

@Don
It's basically fortnite, except a good game. That's the appeal

Japan's Call of Duty. Having a blast so far. No toxic voice chats calling me the n word and little tweaks along with new music keeps things fresh. Not to mention logical constant updates that don't feel like they are meant to complete the game (looking at you Halo Infinite).

Can't wait to see what they have in store DLC wise and new weapon updates.

My favourite shooter games are Splatoon and Doom. The team behind Splatoon is just amazing

Nice, hopefully the number kept going for the franchise.

Absolutely love the game, a superb new addition in the series. Just wish they had added online co op to the single player.

Splatoon is crazy popular in Japan
It had a bloomin McDonald’s splatfest (fries vs McNuggets with McNugget taking the win ofc)