Japanese Charts: Switch Games Dominate As Pikmin 4 Can't Be Plucked From Top

PIKMIN SUPREMACY!!!!!!!!!

I wonder if the Japanese are as hungry for a next gen Switch as we are over here (or maybe it's just seems like it with Youtubers constantly echoing any rumour they read on the internet.) At this rate, Switch 2 could launch and the OLED Switch would STILL be number one hahaha (/jk...erm...I think...)

It’s nice to see a Pikmin doing so well!

Wow, only 1 third party game in the top 10!!
Well, it's a famously IP, really no surprise here, XD

...and yet, we still have Super Mario Wonder and Super Mario RPG left for this year.

I'm so happy to see Pikmin continuing to perform well. This is why a Switch 2 is not needed anytime soon. Software is still selling like crazy on the current system, and a hard reset is too risky. There's no guarantee they can replicate the same success and that current Switch owners will all flock to the next system. The hardcore fans will, but that's not enough.

Even if Switch doesn't beat PS2, it's period and longevity of dominance is an achievement in itself

@Duncanballs I think it has already beaten it in Japan and perhaps USA, but not worldwide.

OBJECTION!

You claim that all hardware is down this week, but one quick look at last week's charts shows 2DS at 29 units sold. The 97 units sold this week is a clear contraction!

@Duncanballs It'll beat PS2, Nintendo just gotta let the Switch kept selling even after they launch the successor in 2025. Releasing a cheaper model of the Switch OLED Lite before that would be a smart move too. They just need to sell more than 30 million units by the end of 2024.

A random thought as to what Nintendo's preference for Dragon Quest 12 is in Japan. If it appeared on current Switch, that's a huge install base to tap into but if it was on Switch 2, sales would be crazy for the new console.

..... Random but only because it's one of my most anticipated games provided that they keep it turn based!

@Not_Soos Why The Switch 7 years old its need a new console.

Good to see the 2DS is still selling.

Can't wait for that september Direct. Hope Ninty has something to show us.

Pikmin 4 is on a roll. I didn’t expect it to last on the charts this long and especially in the TOP SPOT, but very glad to see that as I love the franchise. Nintendo is killing it with the switch. Congratulations Nintendo!

@shgamer Don't expect it to be a given though, usually it's either late September, mid October, or early November. If they are announcing a new console: October and November are the likely months to announce it and it won't be a holiday launch. The console announcement will probably not be part of a direct though but perhaps a teaser trailer.

This was a wonderful game. I can understand why so many people adore Pikmin so much.

@Mauzuri I feel last year was better as it was mostly new games, this year is just more ports and remakes which are still okay, I did enjoy the Return to Dream Land remake, Metroid Prime Remastered, Advance Wars 1 + 2 re-release, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 expansion, Sonic Origins Plus, Red Dead Redemption, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Wave 3 & 4 DLC, Pikmin 1 & 2 remastered, Crisis Core Remastered, and look forward to both Super Mario RPG and Star Ocean: The 2nd Story R. The only six new games this year are Fire Emblem Engage, Pikmin 4, Detective Pikachu Returns, Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon. I still had high hopes for Disgaea 7, Ys X, Mortal Kombat 1, KOFXIII, Persona 5 Tactica, Turok 3, Sonic Superstars, Clock Tower, Tomba, UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince, and Metal Slug Tactics.

3/4 of a million units in Japan over approx. 1 month is very impressive for Pikmin.

I’d like to see a chart showing the sales trends of all Pikmin titles as units sold / unique acquisitions, expressed in weeks since launch

Seems like Pikmin 4 is bound to set records for the franchise.

@Serpenterror been a great year but is time for a change to a more powerful switch that can play many third party games that were never made for the switch would like to get resident evil village and resident evil 4 remake and tales of arise and bring final fantasy back to the switch...

@Serpenterror I agree with you. While 2023 has had a lot of great games a decent portion of Nintendo's line up has been older games. Good remasters though, and the original releases for this year so far like Fire Emblem Engage, Bayonetta Origins, Xenoblade 3 Future Redeemed, Tears of the Kingdom and Pikmin 4 have been great offerings. 2022 easily had a better variety of new games in comparison to remasters/remakes. Everything that comes to mind from Nintendo in 2022 was an original release and even something like Live A Live that was published by them outside Japan was a new experience for us. The Switch is great and I enjoy these older games but I wish we had more years where it was just focused on new experiences from Nintendo.

Great to see Pikmin and Zelda still selling well in Japan. With digital included, Pikmin 4 is easily over 1M units sold in Japan alone, love to see it.

@Sam_ATLUS In 2022 Nintendo didn't release a single remaster or remake, not counting Live A Live since that's a Square Enix game.

@BTB20 Yeah that's true. Live A Live doesn't really count, but I thought it was worth mentioning since it was published by them outside of Japan and they are kind of the reason it got a remake to begin with. 2022 is the only year I can think of with no remasters or remakes from Nintendo, every other year for the Switch has had quite a few remasters/remakes

Awesome! Such is the Power of Pikmin!

PS5 sales is keep going well so far. 😊

So, is the Series S dead? Or maybe dying a slightly faster than slow death?

The game is just fun playing and strategy how to beat each fights. Pikmin 4 should be the basis for if or when Switch 2 comes it's the game library is already pushing 2015 chipsets. That's already past prime time here-either you up the ante or loose the game that what happens in game development you have to keep going forward Hardware and software update to take advantage of better eye candy performance and graphics to insure your consoles remain consistent and relevant in the market place.

@Logicfire xbox was always flatlined in Japan despite all the efforts, actually it did better this gen than the last. I think Japanese people still prefer physical so that's why even digital PS5 is struggling

Aside from two terrible games (TotK and Minecraft) that list is definitely one comprised of real gamers! Good on ya Japan!

@RobynAlecksys I’ve been following the drama with BG3 and feature parity between XSX and XSS. Seems MS did a 180 on their stance and now the S could/should be considered somewhat less than current generation hardware. (Assuming precedent is set here which admittedly could go either way.)
I see MS and its hardware as trying real hard to compete. And it does have its hardcore followers, especially here in the US. I’m not one of them but if nothing else as a non XBox/MS fan, they provided some good entertainment this year with the acquisition of ABZ trials and now the decision to drop feature parity on XSS simply because one game may prove to be worth this short-term win.

@iihiirii1985 I don't think there needs to be a new system just yet. With TOTK and Pokemon Scarlet/Violet selling 18m and 20m in like 1.5 months the Switch's software sales are still the strongest they've ever been.

If they release a successor too early they might cut short the best software sales Nintendo have ever, for a system that isn't even really guaranteed to sell as well as the Switch.

While usually 5-7 years system lifespans are common. Some like the original Gameboy or the Xbox 360 lasted 8 years, Which might actually be ideal for the Switch.

@Dr_Lugae Except the sales going down every year. Just because still doing well in Japan does not mean rest of the world is. The Switch is oversaturated. Games are suffering performance wise. Don't let uptick in sales like the recent Zelda fool you.

@iihiirii1985 True the sales are going down, but they are going down slowly, I don't think 18million systems sold in 2022 is the sign its oversaturated. That's better than most systems peak years.

#1 here we come!! PS2 about to be DE-THRONED! Bye-Bye Sony!