Japan: Famitsu sales for First Half of 2018

In its latest issue, released yesterday, Famitsu shares the latest sales data for the video game market in Japan. This time, we have data for the first half of 2018, and more precisely the period going from January 1st to June 24th (so 25 weeks in total).

While the Top 10 is largely dominated by Nintendo platforms, and more specifically the Nintendo Switch, the best-selling game during the first half of the year is on… PlayStation 4! Then again, it’s not just any game: it’s the latest entry in the popular Monster Hunter series, and it would have been surprising (and worrying for Capcom) if it didn’t end up #1!

The rest of the Top 10 is, as mentioned above, largely dominated by Nintendo platforms: they take 8 of the 10 spots of the Top 10. The Nintendo Switch has completely replaced the Nintendo 3DS in players’ minds, with only one game in the Top 10.

According to the data from Famitsu, Kirby Star Allies is off to a great start, with 536 881 units at retail alone. Since it’s only going to keep selling through the rest of the year, it looks like it’s truly going to become a million-seller in the end (a first for the Kirby series since the Nintendo DS).

As for Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, it’s also sold pretty well in Japan, with 200 131 units at retail according to Famitsu. Granted, it’s nowhere near sales in Europe and North America, but the Rabbids series isn’t exactly popular in Japan (alert: understatement detected), so this is actually a strong performance (by far the most popular Rabbids game in that country).

Finally, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze has already outsold the Wii U version with 179 179 units sold at retail… so close to the 200 000 units milestone, that might have been reached with digital sales.

Below, you will find the complete Top 100 Software for Half 1 2018 from Famitsu, but before that, some additional data! Nintendo platforms managed to grab 45 of the 100 spots of the Top 100, with the Nintendo Switch getting 31 of them and the Nintendo 3DS “only” 14.

This is a pretty good performance for the former, given the rather poor support from third-party publishers (though the situation has definitely improved since last year, it’s just that games do take time to develop!). No doubt the Nintendo Switch will have even more games in the Top 100 for the full year, with quite a few evergreen titles among those.

The Nintendo 3DS, despite a (near) complete lack of notable releases managed to grab 14 spots.

PS4 – 47
NSW – 31
3DS – 14
PSV – 8

Once again, Nintendo was the most successful publisher. It sold no less than 3 940 000 units, which is almost as much as the publishers ranked #2 to #5… combined! That’s quite the performance given the second half is by far the most important one for the company.

It looks like there’s a real chance Nintendo ends up selling over 10 million games in Japan this year (and that’s despite The Pokémon Company publishing Pokémon games in Japan).

Here’s the Top 5 of publishers for the first half of the 2018, according to Famitsu data:

Nintendo – 3.940.000
Capcom – 2.180.000
Bandai Namco Games – 1.020.000
Square Enix – 550.000
Koei Tecmo – 490.000

Hardware sales were dominated by the Nintendo Switch, which sold over 1 million units. Sales are surprisingly close to their 2017 levels, which is quite unexpected since the console has been readily available in stores for many months now (since late January, basically). Granted, 2017 had the launch month (March), but it quickly become extremely hard to find in stores.

This shows that while the Nintendo Switch is definitely selling well in Japan, it definitely hasn’t hit its stride yet. Of course, things are bound to improve as more games are released on the platform (especially titles from third-party publishers, which have been quite slow in adaptating their plans for this new, popular console.

Of course, the price is also an issue, especially among younger players who can’t really afford such an expensive console on their own.

The Nintendo 3DS only sold 323 499 units during the first 6 months of 2018, which is more than twice lower than last year during the same period. As mentioned several times before, the handheld is well on its way to retirement, though it doesn’t look like Nintendo has any plan to discontinue it any time soon… certainly not with 3 new New Nintendo 2DS XL bundles releasing next week!

And as mentioned just above, the price of the Nintendo Switch definitely is an issue for younger players, so keeping an affordable handheld alive for this particular demographic is definitely a wise thing to do.

Here’s Hardware sales for H1 2018 from Famitsu:

Finally, here’s the Top 100 Software from Famitsu:

01./00. [PS4] Monster Hunter: World # <ACT> (Capcom) {2018.01.26} (¥8.980) – 1.949.592 / NEW
02./00. [NSW] Splatoon 2 # <ACT> (Nintendo) {2017.07.21} (¥5.980) – 631.298 / 2.383.394
03./00. [NSW] Kirby Star Allies <ACT> (Nintendo) {2018.03.16} (¥5.980) – 536.881 / NEW
04./03. [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe <RCE> (Nintendo) {2017.04.28} (¥5.980) – 450.206 / 1.553.950 (-10%)
05./00. [NSW] Super Mario Odyssey # <ACT> (Nintendo) {2017.10.27} (¥5.980) – 389.680 / 1.713.960
06./04. [NSW] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild # <ADV> (Nintendo) {2017.03.03} (¥6.980) – 292.459 / 980.503 (-36%)
07./00. [3DS] Pokemon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon # <RPG> (Pokemon Co.) {2017.11.17} (¥4.980) – 240.135 / 2.243.742
08./00. [PS4] Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 2018 <SPT> (Konami) {2018.04.26} (¥7.980) – 217.178 / NEW
09./00. [NSW] Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle <SLG> (Nintendo) {2018.01.18} (¥5.980) – 200.131 / NEW
10./00. [NSW] Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze <ACT> (Nintendo) {2018.05.03} (¥5.980) – 179.179 / NEW
11./00. [NSW] Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 01: Variety Kit <EDU> (Nintendo) {2018.04.20} (¥6.980) – 174.792 / NEW
12./00. [PS4] Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise # <ADV> (Sega) {2018.03.08} (¥8.390) – 174.744 / NEW
13./00. [PS4] Dynasty Warriors 9 # <ACT> (Koei Tecmo) {2018.02.08} (¥7.800) – 171.195 / NEW
14./00. [3DS] Mario Party: The Top 100 <ETC> (Nintendo) {2017.12.28} (¥4.980) – 153.015 / 199.203
15./00. [PS4] Dissidia: Final Fantasy NT <ACT> (Square Enix) {2018.01.11} (¥7.800) – 150.250 / NEW
16./00. [PS4] Far Cry 5 <ACT> (Ubisoft) {2018.03.29} (¥8.400) – 144.455 / NEW
17./00. [PS4] Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet # <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.02.08} (¥8.200) – 126.585 / NEW
18./00. [NSW] Mario Tennis Aces <SPT> (Nintendo) {2018.06.22} (¥5.980) – 122.070 / NEW
19./00. [PS4] Dark Souls Remastered <Dark Souls \ Dark Souls: Artorias of the Abyss> <RPG> (From Software) {2018.05.24} (¥4.800) – 112.974 / NEW
20./00. [PS4] Super Robot Wars X # <SLG> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.03.29} (¥8.600) – 107.866 / NEW
21./00. [3DS] Yo-kai Watch Blasters 2: Hihou Legend Banbarayaa – Sword / Magnum <ACT> (Level 5) {2017.12.16} (¥4.800) – 105.206 / 501.670
22./10. [NSW] 1-2-Switch <ETC> (Nintendo) {2017.03.03} (¥4.980) – 102.117 / 398.405 (-49%)
23./00. [PS4] Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star Link # <ACT> (Marvelous) {2018.06.07} (¥7.980) – 100.782 / NEW
24./00. [PSV] Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 2018 <SPT> (Konami) {2018.04.26} (¥6.980) – 98.591 / NEW
25./00. [PS4] Dragon Ball FighterZ <FTG> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.02.01} (¥7.600) – 98.552 / NEW
26./00. [PS4] God of War # <ACT> (Sony Interactive Entertainment) {2018.04.20} (¥6.900) – 97.504 / NEW
27./00. [NSW] The Snack World: TreJarers Gold <RPG> (Level 5) {2018.04.12} (¥5.980) – 94.697 / NEW
28./18. [NSW] Arms <FTG> (Nintendo) {2017.06.16} (¥5.980) – 93.503 / 378.566 (-40%)
29./00. [PS4] Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom # <RPG> (Level 5) {2018.03.23} (¥8.000) – 88.193 / NEW
30./00. [3DS] Detective Pikachu <ADV> (Pokemon Co.) {2018.03.23} (¥4.980) – 84.648 / NEW
31./00. [NSW] Pokken Tournament DX <FTG> (Pokemon Co.) {2017.09.22} (¥5.980) – 79.933 / 256.314
32./00. [NSW] Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2 for Nintendo Switch <FTG> (Bandai Namco Games) {2017.09.07} (¥6.800) – 70.210 / 161.049
33./00. [PSV] Super Robot Wars X # <SLG> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.03.29} (¥7.600) – 70.115 / NEW
34./00. [PS4] Valkyria Chronicles 4 # <SLG> (Sega) {2018.03.21} (¥7.990) – 66.214 / NEW
35./00. [NSW] Minecraft <ADV> (Microsoft Game Studios) {2018.06.21} (¥3.600) – 66.050 / NEW
36./00. [NSW] Attack on Titan 2 # <ACT> (Koei Tecmo) {2018.03.15} (¥7.800) – 62.414 / NEW
37./00. [NSW] Dragon Quest Builders <ADV> (Square Enix) {2018.03.01} (¥4.800) – 61.255 / NEW
38./00. [PS4] Detroit: Become Human # <ADV> (Sony Interactive Entertainment) {2018.05.25} (¥6.900) – 61.220 / NEW
39./00. [3DS] Kirby Battle Royale <ACT> (Nintendo) {2017.11.30} (¥4.980) – 57.850 / 179.144
40./00. [PS4] Attack on Titan 2 # <ACT> (Koei Tecmo) {2018.03.15} (¥7.800) – 57.536 / NEW
41./00. [PS4] New Gundam Breaker # <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.06.21} (¥7.600) – 57.179 / NEW
42./00. [PS4] Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege – Advanced Edition <ACT> (Ubisoft) {2018.03.01} (¥6.000) – 56.044 / NEW
43./00. [PS4] Girls und Panzer: Dream Tank Match # <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.02.22} (¥7.600) – 55.704 / NEW
44./26. [3DS] Animal Crossing: New Leaf – Welcome amiibo <ETC> (Nintendo) {2016.11.23} (¥2.700) – 53.677 / 373.288 (-53%)
45./00. [PS4] Gintama Ranbu # <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.01.18} (¥7.600) – 50.709 / NEW
46./00. [PSV] Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star Link # <ACT> (Marvelous) {2018.06.07} (¥5.980) – 49.393 / NEW
47./00. [NSW] FIFA 18 <SPT> (Electronic Arts) {2017.09.29} (¥5.800) – 49.340 / 106.643
48./00. [PS4] Metal Gear Survive <ACT> (Konami) {2018.02.21} (¥4.980) – 48.874 / NEW
49./00. [NSW] Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition <ACT> (Koei Tecmo) {2018.03.22} (¥6.800) – 46.214 / NEW
50./00. [PS4] Earth Defense Force 5 <ACT> (D3Publisher) {2017.12.07} (¥7.800) – 44.513 / 233.417
51./00. [NSW] Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 02: Robot Kit <EDU> (Nintendo) {2018.04.20} (¥7.980) – 43.877 / NEW
52./00. [PS4] Seiken Densetsu 2: Secret of Mana # <RPG> (Square Enix) {2018.02.15} (¥4.800) – 43.097 / NEW
53./00. [NSW] Snipperclips Plus: Cut it Out, Together! <PZL> (Nintendo) {2017.11.10} (¥3.280) – 42.771 / 76.561
54./00. [PS4] Call of Duty: WWII # <ACT> (Sony Interactive Entertainment) {2017.11.03} (¥7.900) – 42.018 / 383.125
55./00. [NSW] Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate # <ACT> (Capcom) {2017.08.25} (¥5.800) – 39.997 / 243.356
56./00. [NSW] Xenoblade Chronicles 2 # <RPG> (Nintendo) {2017.12.01} (¥7.980) – 39.253 / 188.643
57./30. [PS4] Grand Theft Auto V [New Price Edition] <ACT> (Take-Two Interactive Japan) {2015.10.08} (¥4.990) – 38.681 / 365.776 (-62%)
58./00. [NSW] The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim <The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim \ The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Dawnguard \ The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Hearthfire \ The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Dragonborn> <RPG> (Bethesda Softworks) {2018.02.01} (¥6.980) – 38.256 / NEW
59./28. [PSV] Minecraft: PlayStation Vita Edition # <ADV> (Sony Computer Entertainment) {2015.03.19} (¥2.400) – 37.701 / 1.085.582 (-66%)
60./38. [PS4] Minecraft: PlayStation 4 Edition <ADV> (Sony Computer Entertainment) {2015.12.03} (¥2.400) – 37.667 / 321.446 (-47%)
61./00. [PS4] Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal # <ACT> (Marvelous) {2018.02.22} (¥6.980) – 35.637 / NEW
62./00. [NSW] Sumikko Gurashi: Sumikko Park e Youkoso <ETC> (Nippon Columbia) {2017.12.07} (¥5.800) – 35.268 / 69.188
63./32. [3DS] Mario Kart 7 <RCE> (Nintendo) {2011.12.01} (¥4.571) – 34.249 / 2.821.830 (-64%)
64./00. [3DS] The Snack World: TreJarers <RPG> (Level 5) {2017.08.10} (¥4.800) – 33.703 / 266.446
65./00. [PS4] Shining Resonance Refrain # <RPG> (Sega) {2018.03.29} (¥5.990) – 32.342 / NEW
66./00. [PS4] Cities: Skylines – PlayStation 4 Edition <SLG> (Spike Chunsoft) {2018.04.12} (¥5.400) – 31.675 / NEW
67./00. [PSV] Gintama Ranbu # <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.01.18} (¥6.800) – 31.367 / NEW
68./00. [3DS] Pokemon Crystal _3DS Virtual Console Version_ |DL| (Dedicated Download Card Special) <RPG> (Nintendo) {2018.01.26} (¥1.389) – 29.816 / NEW
69./00. [3DS] Style Savvy: Styling Star <ETC> (Nintendo) {2017.11.02} (¥4.980) – 29.575 / 138.608
70./00. [PS4] Utawarerumono: Chiriyukusha e no Komoriuta # <SLG> (Aqua Plus) {2018.04.26} (¥6.800) – 28.711 / NEW
71./00. [PS4] Persona Dancing: All-Star Triple Pack <Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight \ Persona 4: Dancing All Night \ Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight > <ACT> (Atlus) {2018.05.24} (¥16.880) – 28.702 / NEW
72./00. [NSW] One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 – Deluxe Edition <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2017.12.21} (¥5.800) – 28.340 / 45.029
73./23. [PS4] Kingdom Hearts HD I.5 + II.5 ReMIX <Kingdom Hearts HD I.5 ReMIX <Kingdom Hearts \ Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories> \ Kingdom Hearts HD II.5 ReMIX <Kingdom Hearts II \ Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+ \ Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep>> <RPG> (Square Enix) {2017.03.09} (¥6.800) – 28.320 / 165.073 (-76%)
74./00. [3DS] Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age # <RPG> (Square Enix) {2017.07.29} (¥5.980) – 28.308 / 1.772.911
75./00. [PS4] Shadow of the Colossus <ADV> (Sony Interactive Entertainment) {2018.02.08} (¥4.900) – 28.248 / NEW
76./00. [PSV] Attack on Titan 2 # <ACT> (Koei Tecmo) {2018.03.15} (¥6.800) – 27.902 / NEW
77./33. [NSW] Super Bomberman R <ACT> (Konami) {2017.03.03} (¥4.980) – 27.393 / 147.573 (-70%)
78./00. [PS4] Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session! # <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2017.10.26} (¥6.100) – 26.368 / 79.175
79./00. [PS4] Metal Max Xeno # <RPG> (Kadokawa Games) {2018.04.19} (¥6.980) – 26.255 / NEW
80./00. [PSV] IDOLiSH7 Twelve Fantasia! # <SLG> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.02.15} (¥6.800) – 25.876 / NEW
81./00. [PS4] The Caligula Effect: Overdose <RPG> (FuRyu) {2018.05.17} (¥7.980) – 25.759 / NEW
82./07. [PS4] NieR: Automata <RPG> (Square Enix) {2017.02.23} (¥7.800) – 25.644 / 389.745 (-92%)
83./00. [NSW] Bayonetta 2 <ACT> (Nintendo) {2018.02.17} (¥5.980) – 25.016 / NEW
84./00. [PS4] Star Wars: Battlefront II # <ACT> (Electronic Arts) {2017.11.17} (¥7.800) – 24.737 / 99.252
85./00. [PS4] Winning Eleven 2018 <SPT> (Konami) {2017.09.14} (¥7.600) – 24.486 / 159.458
86./00. [PS4] Gran Turismo Sport # <RCE> (Sony Interactive Entertainment) {2017.10.19} (¥6.900) – 24.350 / 218.091
87./00. [PSV] Seiken Densetsu 2: Secret of Mana # <RPG> (Square Enix) {2018.02.15} (¥4.800) – 23.731 / NEW
88./00. [3DS] Doraemon: Nobita no Takarajima <ADV> (FuRyu) {2018.03.01} (¥5.480) – 23.439 / NEW
89./00. [PS4] Death end re;Quest # <RPG> (Compile Heart) {2018.04.12} (¥7.200) – 23.253 / NEW
90./00. [PS4] The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel I Kai – Thors Military Academy 1204 <RPG> (Nihon Falcom) {2018.03.08} (¥3.980) – 22.814 / NEW
91./00. [PS4] Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition <FTG> (Capcom) {2018.01.18} (¥4.990) – 22.071 / NEW
92./00. [PS4] Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age # <RPG> (Square Enix) {2017.07.29} (¥8.980) – 21.621 / 1.357.801
93./00. [3DS] Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate [Best Price!] <ACT> (Capcom) {2017.11.30} (¥3.990) – 21.583 / 30.601
94./00. [NSW] SD Gundam G Generation: Genesis for Nintendo Switch <SLG> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.04.26} (¥6.800) – 21.229 / NEW
95./62. [NSW] Puyo Puyo Tetris <PZL> (Sega) {2017.03.03} (¥4.990) – 20.971 / 77.617 (-49%)
96./00. [PS4] Dragon’s Crown Pro # <ACT> (Atlus) {2018.02.08} (¥7.980) – 20.619 / NEW
97./00. [NSW] PriPara All Idol Perfect Stage! <ACT> (Takara Tomy) {2018.03.22} (¥5.980) – 20.268 / NEW
98./00. [3DS] Attack on Titan 2: Future Coordinates <ACT> (Spike Chunsoft) {2017.11.30} (¥5.980) – 20.219 / 49.383
99./00. [PS4] Cyber Troopers Virtual-On x Toaru Majutsu no Index: Toaru Majutsu no Virtual-On # <ACT> (Sega) {2018.02.15} (¥7.990) – 19.703 / NEW
100./00. [PS4] BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle # <FTG> (Arc System Works) {2018.05.31} (¥5.800) – 19.369 / NEW

Source: Famitsu magazine
Data compiled by: Chris1964 (ResetEra)