More than 168 thousand units of the Nintendo Switch device were sold in the last two weeks of the year, and these numbers are very average compared to previous years for the same period. There is no doubt that the device, which is in its seventh year on the market, has reached the stage of market saturation, and despite Nintendo’s attempt to extend its life to the maximum extent with the different versions of it, the Switch. It is still on its way to becoming the best-selling gaming device in Japanese history, but it will undoubtedly need a price reduction during the coming period to ensure the continuity of its sales.
The PlayStation 5 sells more than 82 thousand units during the last two weeks of the year. Although the number is considered good for PlayStation 5 sales there, it is certainly a modest number for the best-selling weeks of the year. The price of the device is high for Japanese fans, and also the absence of its strong releases in the month of December did not help the device to achieve a good number, overall. 2023 was the best year for the device by a large margin in sales. Xbox Series devices are dying in the Japanese markets.
Games sales
1. [NSW] Super Mario Bros. Wonder – 221,738 / 1,549,401
2. [NSW] Momotaro Dentetsu World: Chikyuu wa Kibou de Mawatteru! – 192,620 / 795,681
3. [NSW] Pikmin 4 – 78,589 / 1,119,027
4. [NSW] Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince – 77,035 / 510,477
5. [PS5] Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – 53,238 / 166,731
6. [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 46,452 / 5,631,598
7. [NSW] Minecraft – 38,472 / 3,394,222
8. [NSW] Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – 38,005 / 5,400,275
9. [NSW] WarioWare: Move It – 37,147 / 141,554
10. [NSW] Pokemon Scarlet / Violet – 35,679 / 5,246,363
Super Mario Bros. game Wonder ends the year at the top of sales with more than 1.5 million copies sold. With the addition of digital sales, the game has now exceeded the barrier of 2 million copies sold in Japan. Momotaro Dentetsu World ends the year on a strong note, and with its digital sales it has exceeded the barrier of one million copies sold.
Pikmin 4 was Nintendo’s biggest winner this year, surpassing the barrier of one million copies sold, regardless of digital sales, for the first time in the series’ history. Also, the game Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince achieved strong success for Square Enix and is heading to exceed the barrier of one million copies sold, as well as the game Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. It takes advantage of its bundle with PlayStation 5 and returns to the list again.