[Japan] Media Create sales for Week 11, 2018 (March 12th – March 18th) – A Star Arises [Top 50]

Media Create

Week 11 saw the release of many games, which is why the Top 20 from Media Create looks quite different this time around (especially the second half of the Top 20). The star of the week is obviously Kirby Star Allies, which is off to a great start in Japan with no less than 222 031 units sold. Famitsu reports slightly high sales: 223 811 units.

In comparison, here’s how the game has sold compared to previous entries in the series (Famitsu data, courtesy of Game Data Library):

As you can see for yourself, Kirby Star Allies has the 4th best opening for a Kirby game, which is a pretty impressive results for several reasons. First of all, it’s the first time that a mainline Kirby game is released so early in the lifecycle of a console. In comparison, Kirby Triple Deluxe was released as the Nintendo 3DS was about to celebrate its 3rd Anniversary (so a whole year earlier).

Also, the data mentioned above does not factor in digital sales, so it’s definitely possible Kirby Star Allies actually had the best or second best debut for a Kirby game ever… especially since it was released on a Friday, one day later in the week than the other games (due to the worldwide release). Long story short: Kirby is doing pretty well on Nintendo Switch!

Attack on Titan 2, on the other hand, didn’t do too hot. Global sales (across all platforms) are roughly 50% down over the first game, which is not a good sign at all. The Nintendo Switch was the second best-selling one, with 22 941 units (as opposed to 28 480 units for the PlayStation 4 version).

Quite interestingly, Famitsu data shows significantly higher sales for the Nintendo Switch version: 28 099 units, which puts it in line with the PlayStation 4 version (28 807 units). This shows that the Nintendo Switch is a perfectly viable platform for multi-platform projects (not late ports!), though it’s definitely a shame that, so far, pretty much all such games have underperformed (sometimes massively) on all platforms!

As for Future Card Buddy Fight: Tanjou! Oretachi no Saikyou Body!, it had the worst debut for the series on Nintendo 3DS, with 5 362 units sold during launch week.

Next: Winning Post 8 2018. It sold 3 745 units during its launch week, which is roughly 60% less than the PlayStation 4, but on par with the PlayStation Vita version. Nothing to write home about, sadly!

Finally, the Nintendo Swtich version of Gal Gun 2 did not manage to chart in the Top 20 from Media Create, but according to Famitsu, it sold about 2 622 units. In comparison, the PlayStation 4 version sold 4 728 units, which means the two versions combined have sold over 7 000 units.

This is slightly lower than the previous game, on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita, but it’s not that big a deal for Inti Creates: Gal Gun 2 is a pretty niche series after all (which means it’s not going to stay in the Top 2 very long).

Now, let’s take a look at games that were released before Week 11. Splatoon 2 received a healthy boost thanks to the return of the Nintendo Switch bundle: it sold 30 471 units this week (+37%), which brings the total since launch to 2 136 957 units.

Quite interestingly, Famitsu reports significantly lower sales: “only” 23 743 units. This would imply Amazon got a fair share of the Nintendo Switch bundle shipment, as only Media Create tracks Amazon sales. The increase in Hardware sales implies the bundle itself was fairly limited.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sold 15 408 units this week, which is slightly below Week 10 sales (-11% to be precise). It’s pretty clear the new Nintendo Switch owners were more interested in Kirby Star Allies and Splatoon 2, though it’s not like the other Nintendo Switch games in the Top 20 saw a major drop in sales or anything.

For example, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild once again sold over 10 000 units during a single week, with 10 434 units for Week 11 (that’s only -10% compared to Week 10). Super Mario Odyssey is one of the evergreen titles that was hit the “hardest”, with -18% in a single week (maybe because it’s also a platformer?). It still sold 9 076 units this week, and 1 657 931 units since launch.

Finally, let’s take a look at how games in the second half of the Top 20 are faring:

• 12./08. [3DS] Pokemon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon (Pokemon Co.) – 7.708 / 1.592.916 (-11%). Sales did drop slightly this week, but they remain surprisingly strong;
• 19./12. [NSW] Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle (Nintendo) – 3.728 / 167.333 (-29%). It looks like this one is on the way out…

Media Create – Software Top 50

01./00. [NSW] Kirby Star Allies <ACT> (Nintendo) {2018.03.16} (¥5.980) – 222.031 / NEW
02./03. [NSW] Splatoon 2 # <ACT> (Nintendo) {2017.07.21} (¥5.980) – 30.471 / 2.136.957 (+37%)
03./00. [PS4] Attack on Titan 2 # <ACT> (Koei Tecmo) {2018.03.15} (¥7.800) – 28.480 / NEW
04./00. [NSW] Attack on Titan 2 # <ACT> (Koei Tecmo) {2018.03.15} (¥7.800) – 22.941 / NEW
05./01. [PS4] Like the North Star # <ADV> (Sega) {2018.03.08} (¥8.390) – 20.448 / 143.563 (-83%)
06./02. [PS4] Monster Hunter: World # <ACT> (Capcom) {2018.01.26} (¥8.980) – 16.614 / 1.970.886 (-35%)
07./04. [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe <RCE> (Nintendo) {2017.04.28} (¥5.980) – 15.408 / 1.415.211 (-11%)
08./00. [PSV] Attack on Titan 2 # <ACT> (Koei Tecmo) {2018.03.15} (¥6.800) – 15.261 / NEW
09./05. [NSW] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild # <ADV> (Nintendo) {2017.03.03} (¥6.980) – 10.434 / 918.501 (-10%)
10./06. [NSW] Super Mario Odyssey # <ACT> (Nintendo) {2017.10.27} (¥5.980) – 9.076 / 1.657.931 (-18%)
11./00. [PS4] Winning Post 8 2018 <SLG> (Koei Tecmo) {2018.03.15} (¥7.800) – 8.459 / NEW
12./08. [3DS] Pokemon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon <RPG> (Pokemon Co.) {2017.11.17} (¥4.980) – 7.708 / 1.592.916 (-11%)
13./00. [PS4] Devil May Cry HD Collection <Devil May Cry \ Devil May Cry 2 \ Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening Special Edition> # <ACT> (Capcom) {2018.03.15} (¥3.990) – 6.280 / NEW
14./09. [PS4] Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege – Advanced Edition <ACT> (Ubisoft) {2018.03.01} (¥6.000) – 5.978 / 22.211 (-27%)
15./00. [3DS] Future Card Buddy Fight: Tanjou! Oretachi no Saikyou Body! <TBL> (FuRyu) {2018.03.15} (¥5.980) – 5.362 / NEW
16./00. [PS4] Gal Gun 2 # <ACT> (Inti Creates) {2018.03.15} (¥6.980) – 3.892 / NEW
17./00. [PSV] Winning Post 8 2018 <SLG> (Koei Tecmo) {2018.03.15} (¥6.800) – 3.837 / NEW
18./00. [NSW] Winning Post 8 2018 <SLG> (Koei Tecmo) {2018.03.15} (¥7.800) – 3.745 / NEW
19./12. [NSW] Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle <SLG> (Nintendo) {2018.01.18} (¥5.980) – 3.728 / 167.333 (-29%)
20./00. [PS4] The Silver Case # <ADV> (Nippon Ichi Software) {2018.03.15} (¥6.980) – 3.550 / NEW
21./14. [NSW] 1-2-Switch <ETC> (Nintendo) {2017.03.03} (¥4.980)
22./11. [NSW] Dragon Quest Builders <ADV> (Square Enix) {2018.03.01} (¥4.800)
23./16. [3DS] Mario Party: The Top 100 <ETC> (Nintendo) {2017.12.28} (¥4.980)
24./21. [NSW] Pokken Tournament DX <FTG> (Pokemon Co.) {2017.09.22} (¥5.980)
25./13. [PS4] Metal Gear Survive <ACT> (Konami) {2018.02.21} (¥4.980)
26./17. [NSW] Arms <FTG> (Nintendo) {2017.06.16} (¥5.980)
27./27. [3DS] Animal Crossing: New Leaf – Welcome amiibo <ETC> (Nintendo) {2016.11.23} (¥2.700)
28./25. [PS4] Call of Duty: WWII # <ACT> (Sony Interactive Entertainment) {2017.11.03} (¥7.900)
29./18. [3DS] Doraemon: Nobita no Takarajima <ADV> (FuRyu) {2018.03.01} (¥5.480)
30./20. [NSW] Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2 for Nintendo Switch <FTG> (Bandai Namco Games) {2017.09.07} (¥6.800)
31./07. [PS4] The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel I Kai – Thors Military Academy 1204 <RPG> (Nihon Falcom) {2018.03.08} (¥3.980)
32./00. [PS4] Burnout Paradise Remastered <RCE> (Electronic Arts) {2018.03.16} (¥3.800)
33./15. [PS4] Girls und Panzer: Dream Tank Match # <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.02.22} (¥7.600)
34./00. [NSW] Gal Gun 2 # <ACT> (Inti Creates) {2018.03.15} (¥6.980)
35./23. [PS4] Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet # <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.02.08} (¥8.200)
36./19. [PS4] Dynasty Warriors 9 # <ACT> (Koei Tecmo) {2018.02.08} (¥7.800)
37./00. [PSV] Flowers: Le volume sur hiver <ADV> (Prototype) {2018.03.16} (¥4.800)
38./29. [3DS] Kirby Battle Royale <ACT> (Nintendo) {2017.11.30} (¥4.980)
39./34. [NSW] Snipperclips Plus: Cut it Out, Together! <PZL> (Nintendo) {2017.11.10} (¥3.280)
40./31. [3DS] Yo-kai Watch Busters 2: Hihou Legend Banbarayaa – Sword / Magnum <ACT> (Level 5) {2017.12.16} (¥4.800)
41./41. [PS4] FIFA 18 # <SPT> (Electronic Arts) {2017.09.29} (¥7.800)
42./00. [3DS] Akogare Girls Collection: Wan Nyan Doubutsu Byouin – Pet no Oisha-san ni Narou! <ADV> (Nippon Columbia) {2018.03.15} (¥4.800)
43./37. [PS4] Grand Theft Auto V [New Price Edition] <ACT> (Take-Two Interactive Japan) {2015.10.08} (¥4.990)
44./30. [PS4] Dragon Ball FighterZ <FTG> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.02.01} (¥7.600)
45./36. [NSW] Monster Hunter Double Cross: Nintendo Switch Ver. # <ACT> (Capcom) {2017.08.25} (¥5.800)
46./32. [NSW] Bayonetta 2 <ACT> (Nintendo) {2018.02.17} (¥5.980)
47./43. [PSV] Minecraft: PlayStation Vita Edition # <ADV> (Sony Computer Entertainment) {2015.03.19} (¥2.400)
48./42. [NSW] Xenoblade Chronicles 2 # <RPG> (Nintendo) {2017.12.01} (¥7.980)
49./39. [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)
50./00. [PS4] Final Fantasy XV: Royal Edition <Final Fantasy XV \ Final Fantasy XV: Episode Gladiolus \ Final Fantasy XV: Episode Prompto \ Final Fantasy XV: Multiplayer Expansion Comrades \ Final Fantasy XV: Episode Ignis \ Final Fantasy XV: Insomnia City Ruins Expanded Map> <RPG> (Square Enix) {2018.03.06} (¥7.800)

Media Create – Number of games in Top 50

NSW – 19
PS4 – 19
3DS – 8
PSV – 4

Media Create – Hardware

This week saw the release of both Kirby Star Allies and the return of the Splatoon 2 bundle, but Nintendo Switch sales “only” increased by about 9 000 units. Since the Splatoon 2 bundle was seemingly pretty limited, this shows that Kirby Star Allies mostly sold to people who already owned the console (maybe they simply didn’t wait until the game was out, and bought it beforehand expecting the usual shortages at launch).

It will be interesting to see how the console fares in the upcoming weeks, with payday next week, and the Gold Week in late April / early May. The console has been enjoying strong sales in the past few weeks, though it’s true that the numbers may seem a bit underwhelming after the endless shortages and daily queues in front of stores throughout most of 2017!

Speaking of the Nintendo Switch, sales should top 4 million units by the end of the month (as early as next week for Famitsu)!

Meanwhile, Nintendo 3DS sales once again dropped slightly, and it’s now down to 4 digit sales for the first time in a long, long while. It sold 9 148 units, which is roughly 1 000 units less than last week.

The gap with last year keeps on widening, but that’s hardly surprising for this particular week: Monster Hunter XX was released on March 18th last year after all, while nothing noteworthy is releasing before Detective Pikachu on March 23rd this year.

Famitsu – Software Top 30

01./00. [NSW] Kirby Star Allies <ACT> (Nintendo) {2018.03.16} (¥5.980) – 223.811 / NEW <60-80%>
02./00. [PS4] Attack on Titan 2 # <ACT> (Koei Tecmo) {2018.03.15} (¥7.800) – 28.807 / NEW <40-60%>
03./00. [NSW] Attack on Titan 2 # <ACT> (Koei Tecmo) {2018.03.15} (¥7.800) – 28.099 / NEW <60-80%>
04./03. [NSW] Splatoon 2 # <ACT> (Nintendo) {2017.07.21} (¥5.980) – 23.743 / 2.117.540 <80-100%> (+16%)
05./01. [PS4] Like the North Star # <ADV> (Sega) {2018.03.08} (¥8.390) – 19.135 / 147.046 <80-100%> (-85%)
06./02. [PS4] Monster Hunter: World # <ACT> (Capcom) {2018.01.26} (¥8.980) – 14.610 / 1.906.568 <80-100%> (-40%)
07./00. [PSV] Attack on Titan 2 # <ACT> (Koei Tecmo) {2018.03.15} (¥6.800) – 12.323 / NEW <40-60%>
08./04. [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe <RCE> (Nintendo) {2017.04.28} (¥5.980) – 12.127 / 1.383.264 <80-100%> (-15%)
09./05. [NSW] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild # <ADV> (Nintendo) {2017.03.03} (¥6.980) – 10.252 / 860.019 <80-100%> (-14%)
10./06. [NSW] Super Mario Odyssey # <ACT> (Nintendo) {2017.10.27} (¥5.980) – 9.947 / 1.601.972 <80-100%> (-16%)
11./08. [3DS] Pokemon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon # <RPG> (Pokemon Co.) {2017.11.17} (¥4.980) – 7.061 / 2.191.838 <80-100%> (-14%)
12./00. [PS4] Winning Post 8 2018 <SLG> (Koei Tecmo) {2018.03.15} (¥7.800) – 6.706 / NEW <40-60%>
13./00. [PS4] Devil May Cry HD Collection <Devil May Cry \ Devil May Cry 2 \ Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening – Special Edition> # <ACT> (Capcom) {2018.03.15} (¥3.990) – 6.264 / NEW <20-40%>
14./00. [3DS] Future Card Buddy Fight: Tanjou! Oretachi no Saikyou Body! <TBL> (FuRyu) {2018.03.15} (¥5.980) – 5.825 / NEW <40-60%>
15./10. [PS4] Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege – Advanced Edition <ACT> (Ubisoft) {2018.03.01} (¥6.000) – 4.840 / 18.659 <60-80%> (-27%)
16./00. [PS4] Gal Gun 2 # <ACT> (Inti Creates) {2018.03.15} (¥6.980) – 4.728 / NEW <40-60%>
17./09. [NSW] Dragon Quest Builders <ADV> (Square Enix) {2018.03.01} (¥4.800) – 4.010 / 40.958 <60-80%> (-50%)
18./14. [NSW] Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2 for Nintendo Switch <FTG> (Bandai Namco Games) {2017.09.07} (¥6.800) – 3.314 / 131.610 <80-100%> (-21%)
19./12. [NSW] Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle <SLG> (Nintendo) {2018.01.18} (¥5.980) – 3.105 / 182.157 <80-100%> (-33%)
20./00. [PSV] Winning Post 8 2018 <SLG> (Koei Tecmo) {2018.03.15} (¥6.800) – 3.079 / NEW <40-60%>
21./16. [NSW] 1-2-Switch <ETC> (Nintendo) {2017.03.03} (¥4.980) – 2.947 / 360.895 <80-100%> (-14%)
22./18. [NSW] Pokken Tournament DX <FTG> (Pokemon Co.) {2017.09.22} (¥5.980) – 2.625 / 228.080 <80-100%> (-16%)
23./00. [NSW] Gal Gun 2 # <ACT> (Inti Creates) {2018.03.15} (¥6.980) – 2.622 / NEW <40-60%>
24./00. [NSW] Winning Post 8 2018 <SLG> (Koei Tecmo) {2018.03.15} (¥7.800) – 2.445 / NEW <20-40%>
25./07. [PS4] The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel I Kai – Thors Military Academy 1204 <RPG> (Nihon Falcom) {2018.03.08} (¥3.980) – 2.412 / 14.233 <60-80%> (-80%)
26./22. [NSW] Arms <FTG> (Nintendo) {2017.06.16} (¥5.980) – 2.370 / 348.292 <80-100%> (-18%)
27./15. [3DS] Doraemon: Nobita no Takarajima <ADV> (FuRyu) {2018.03.01} (¥5.480) – 2.317 / 11.337 <40-60%> (-36%)
28./25. [3DS] Mario Party: The Top 100 <ETC> (Nintendo) {2017.12.28} (¥4.980) – 2.218 / 178.667 <80-100%> (-17%)
29./00. [PS4] The Silver Case # <ADV> (Nippon Ichi Software) {2018.03.15} (¥6.980) – 2.195 / NEW <60-80%>
30./13. [PS4] Metal Gear Survive <ACT> (Konami) {2018.02.21} (¥4.980) – 2.186 / 43.407 <60-80%> (-50%)

Famitsu – Number of games in Top 30

NSW – 14
PS4 – 10
3DS – 4
PSV – 2

Famitsu – Hardware

Click here for more Japanese sales data!

Source: Media Create / Famitsu / Gamer
Via: Chris1964 (ResetEra)