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Splatoon 3 sells 3.45m in Japan at launch (Bigger than ACNH launch)

Luminoth-4545

Luminoth-4545

Member
Nintendo Co., Ltd. (HQ: Kyoto, Minami-ku, Japan; Representative Director and President: Shuntaro Furukawa) announced that domestic sales of the Splatoon 3 game for the Nintendo Switch system have surpassed 3.45 million units* in the first three days since its launch on September 9, 2022. This is the highest domestic sales level for any Nintendo Switch software within the first three days.

* According to Nintendo. This includes both packaged and downloadable versions.

https://www.nintendo.co.jp/corporate/release/en/2022/220912.html

Animal Crossing New Horizons had the previous biggest Switch launch week in Japan with 2.5 million sold (shipped + digital).


Edit: Not only is Splatoon 3 the biggest Nintendo Switch software launch in Japan but it's the biggest ever in Japan for any platform, beating out Pokemon Black & White's launch of 2.63 million on the Nintendo DS back in September 2010. So Splatoon 3 not only took the all time record it absolutely smashed it by 820k.

The biggest non Nintendo launch in Japan was Final Fantasy VIII with 2.504 million on the PS1 back in February 1999.

Japan Top 10 Launch weeks

1. Splatoon 3 - NSW - 3.45m
2. Pokemon B/W - NDS - 2.63m
3. Final Fantasy 8 - PS1 - 2.50m
4. Animal Crossing NH - NSW - 2.50m
5. Dragon Quest 9 - NDS - 2.34m
6. Dragon Quest 8 - PS2 - 2.23m
7. Monster Hunter Freedom 3 - PSP - 2.14m
8. Pokemon X/Y - N3DS - 2.09m
9. Final Fantasy 7 - PS1 - 2.03m
10. Final Fantasy 9 - PS1 - 1.95m


Sales data from famitsu apart from Splatoon 3 and ACNH which are shipped + digital sales.
 
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Banjo64

Banjo64

cumsessed
ho-lee-fuk-29638292.png
 
O

Ozzie666

Member
Is this an explosive title with a lower ceiling than Animal crossing? which came out during the pandemic. Mind you Splatoon 2 to 3, the install base as grown so much, how far can Splatoon go? The Switch is just insane. Is this another evergreen ?
 
Jennings

Jennings

Member
I loved the first game on WiiU. I only got to play the second game a tiny bit before they yanked it away from me and blocked multiplayer by shuttering it behind a paywall. I'd like to play the third one, but I don't want to pay $80 for the priviledge.

If multiplayer ever becomes free again I might jump on the game if there are still people playing. For me it's Nintendo's best "new" IP in ages.
 
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Tiago Rodrigues

Tiago Rodrigues

Member
Stuart360 said:
God i hate how you really have to watch what you say in Switch threads or the mods come down hard. All my 9 warning points over the years have been in Switch threads.
I really want to say something about Switch software sales but i just know it will be taken the wrong way and i'll get in trouble lol.:messenger_tears_of_joy:
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They are games that are great and have mass appeal to the general public. That's it. These numbers are great no matter what.
 
N

NahaNago

Member
Dammn Dammmnnnn GIF by MOODMAN


I didn't think it was that popular in Japan. I do remember seeing some video with Splatoon merchandise all over the place, but I still didn't think the sales would be this good.
 
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Majima Everywhere System

Majima Everywhere System

Member
Jennings said:
I loved the first game on WiiU. I only got to play the second game a tiny bit before they yanked it away from me and blocked multiplayer by shuttering it behind a paywall. I'd like to play the third one, but I don't want to pay $80 for the priviledge.

If multiplayer ever becomes free again I might jump on the game if there are still people playing. For me it's Nintendo's best "new" IP in ages.
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I will say, though it wont make you feel great, that the Nintendo coins you get off Splatoon get you the online for $15.

I hated this as well. But I also hate video games now, so I had to try this game to know for sure. I think it's pretty darn good.
 
Bragr

Bragr

Banned
That is far beyond even Nintendo's wildest prediction, unbelievable.

Don't expect this success worldwide though, it's not like Animal Crossing, it will hit around the same numbers as Splatoon 2 in other markets. But in Japan, it has become some sort of zeitgeist.

I wonder how far up this list it can get.

FbVdF9RXkAEg4cp
 
Nautilus

Nautilus

Banned
Bragr said:
That is far beyond even Nintendo's wildest prediction, unbelievable.

Don't expect this success worldwide though, it's not like Animal Crossing, it will hit around the same numbers as Splatoon 2 in other markets. But in Japan, it has become some sort of zeitgeist.

I wonder how far up this list it can get.

FbVdF9RXkAEg4cp
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I mean, it WILL do better in other markets, that's just the expectation. Just don't expect the level of growth it saw in Japan.
 
NeoIkaruGAF

NeoIkaruGAF

Gold Member
Splatoon is pure Nintendo. A completely original, 100% Japanese concept that nobody in the west could ever have conceived if they gave you a billion dollars. Bold, radical artstyle and character design. A musical background that’s totally cringe out of context, and totally amazing in context. Simple to pick up, but also tremendously deep and furiously competitive.

The potential was clearly there since the very first online test on the WiiU. Splatoon’s success is absolutely deserved.
 
Luminoth-4545

Luminoth-4545

Member
I added the top 10 Japan launches to the OP to put into perspective just how huge this Splatoon 3 launch was. Numbers are from famitsu apart from ACNH which includes digital sales.

Japan Top 10 Launch weeks

1. Splatoon 3 - NSW - 3.45m
2. Pokemon B/W - NDS - 2.63m
3. Final Fantasy 8 - PS1 - 2.50m
4. Animal Crossing NH - NSW - 2.50m
5. Dragon Quest 9 - NDS - 2.34m
6. Dragon Quest 8 - PS2 - 2.23m
7. Monster Hunter Freedom 3 - PSP - 2.14m
8. Pokemon X/Y - N3DS - 2.09m
9. Final Fantasy 7 - PS1 - 2.03m
10. Final Fantasy 9 - PS1 - 1.95m
 
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Punished Miku

Punished Miku

Human Rights Subscription Service
Stuart360 said:
Didnt realize Splatoon was even that popular. Then again its Switch isnt it, the game will probably sell 40ml.
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There was sick merch for it everywhere in Japan for part 2. Chopsticks, shirts, art books. And all of it looks cool.

I'll be importing the OST and the next art book eventually. I got them for 1 and 2 and the Octopath Expansion.

Waiting for some of the new shirts to trickle out.
 
Banjo64

Banjo64

cumsessed
Luminoth-4545 said:
I added the top 10 Japan launches to the OP to put into perspective just how huge this Splatoon 3 launch was. Numbers are from famitsu apart from ACNH which includes digital sales.

Japan Top 10 Launch weeks

1. Splatoon 3 - NSW - 3.45m
2. Pokemon B/W - NDS - 2.63m
3. Final Fantasy 8 - PS1 - 2.50m
4. Animal Crossing NH - NSW - 2.50m
5. Dragon Quest 9 - NDS - 2.34m
6. Dragon Quest 8 - PS2 - 2.23m
7. Monster Hunter Freedom 3 - PSP - 2.14m
8. Pokemon X/Y - N3DS - 2.09m
9. Final Fantasy 7 - PS1 - 2.03m
10. Final Fantasy 9 - PS1 - 1.95m
Click to expand...
Wow. It’s the biggest by a gigantic margin.
 
Bernd Lauert

Bernd Lauert

Banned
Luminoth-4545 said:
I added the top 10 Japan launches to the OP to put into perspective just how huge this Splatoon 3 launch was. Numbers are from famitsu apart from ACNH which includes digital sales.

Japan Top 10 Launch weeks

1. Splatoon 3 - NSW - 3.45m
2. Pokemon B/W - NDS - 2.63m
3. Final Fantasy 8 - PS1 - 2.50m
4. Animal Crossing NH - NSW - 2.50m
5. Dragon Quest 9 - NDS - 2.34m
6. Dragon Quest 8 - PS2 - 2.23m
7. Monster Hunter Freedom 3 - PSP - 2.14m
8. Pokemon X/Y - N3DS - 2.09m
9. Final Fantasy 7 - PS1 - 2.03m
10. Final Fantasy 9 - PS1 - 1.95m
Click to expand...
I like how Splatoon is also a wildely different game compared to the others. #1 in Japan being a third person shooter is rather unexpected.
 
Luminoth-4545

Luminoth-4545

Member
Bragr said:
That is far beyond even Nintendo's wildest prediction, unbelievable.

Don't expect this success worldwide though, it's not like Animal Crossing, it will hit around the same numbers as Splatoon 2 in other markets. But in Japan, it has become some sort of zeitgeist.

I wonder how far up this list it can get.

FbVdF9RXkAEg4cp
Click to expand...
Splatoon 3 could challenge Super Mario Party for 7th place (well 8th when Pokemon S/V leapfrogs them both). Super Mario Party's sales have dipped quite badly since Mario Party superstars came out so it may struggle to hit 20m lifetime.
 
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Kokoloko85

Kokoloko85

Member
Nautilus said:
"But consoles are dead in Japan. I've been told that japanese only play on mobile these days!!!"
Click to expand...

Switch is a hybrid portable, thats why it plays Wii U quality games in 2017-2022. Both versions can play games Away from the TV. Neither cannot be played on the go.

Regular home console games just don’t sell as much anymore in Japan, look at Wii U sales and its game sales, look at PS4, Gamecube, PS5 etc Wii games that weren’t included in console bundles etc. They sell nothing like 3DS or Switch.
The JRPG love isn’t the same as before, I don’t think there is a JRPG in the top 20 Switch Japan sales apart from Pokemon

Japan sales for Wii U games:

New Super Mario Bros. U – 1,252,654 copies
Mario Kart 8 – 1,183,372 copies
Splatoon – 1,154,192 copies
Wii Party U – 819,715 copies
Super Mario Maker – 773,116 copies

Compare it to 3DS and Switch
 
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