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[Japan] Media Create sales for Week 48, 2018 (November 26th – December 2nd) [Top 50]

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Here’s the latest sales report from Media Create (and Famitsu), covering Week 48 2018 in Japan.

Media Create

Week 48 was a pretty busy one, and so it’s no wonder there’s a lot of activity in the Top 20 from Media Create. The biggest release of the week on Nintendo platforms is Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth on Nintendo 3DS. Just like pretty all other Nintendo 3DS releases this year, it (massively) underperformed with only 79 747 units sold during launch week. It seems that’s significantly below retailers expectations (if Day-1 sell-through is anything to go by), which means they will have trouble selling the remaining units…

There’s several reasons to explain this underperformance:

  • the aging Nintendo 3DS: players have quite simply moved on;
  • it’s the second Persona Q game on the same platform, and so a fair number of players already had their fill it with… or simply realised they didn’t like this type of game. The novelty factor isn’t there anymore;
  • it’s a spin-off of the Persona series, but with gameplay based on the Etrian Odysssey series. And the thing is, Etrian Odyssey Nexus was released barely 4 months ago, and two games in such a short amount of time is most likely too much for many players.

While Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth will not have any trouble selling over 100 000 units LTD, it looks like it’s not going to sell as much as the first game did at launch. After all, sales for that kind of games are heavily concentrated on the first couple of weeks.

The second release of the week on Nintendo platforms is Kamen Rider: Climax Scramble Zi-O, which didn’t do so hot. With 14 465 units sold, it’s one of the worst debuts for the series, which is most definitely not good news for Bandai-Namco as the previous Kamen Rider game already did not impress anyone with its sales on PS4. Granted, Kamen Rider: Climax Scramble Zi-O should benefit from the holiday season and the sustained interest in the Nintendo Switch, but it’s clearly not going to sell gangbusters in the upcoming weeks.

But that’s not the only underperformance for Bandai-Namco this week: Billion Road also didn’t do too hot, with only 4 682 units sold. You would think that a Momotaro Dentetsu-like party game on a family friend platform and during the holiday season would sell more than what it did… It’s not clear whether it will sell during the holiday season or not, but it’s more than likely than players will simply go with the much more popular Super Mario Party.

Finally, Lapis x Labyrinth sold 4 144 units… on PlayStation 4. Unfortunately, the Nintendo Switch version doesn’t even appear in the Top 20 from Media Create, which means it sold less than 4 118 units. That’s pretty low, but in line with how similar games from Nippon Ichi Software have performed in the past couple of years.

Despite the various releases this week, the game at #1 of the Top 20 from Media Create is still the same… Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! / Let’s Go, Eevee! is still selling steadily, and hasn’t left the #1 spot since its release week (that’s the 3rd week in a row). But with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate releasing this Friday, it’s the last week at the top for it!

Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! / Let’s Go, Eevee! sold 94 753 additional units during its 3rd week on the market (-42%), bringing the total since launch to 918 459 units. Now that the holiday season is in full swing, the 1 million units milestone will be reached either during Week 49 or Week 50 (it will most likely depend on whether Super Smash Bros. Ultimate sucks up all the attention or if holiday sales will be stronger).

Thanks to the release of the bundle including the game and a pair of Joy-Cons, Super Mario Party saw its sales double Week on Week (+104%), with 49 829 units sold. The bundle is nothing to write home about (it’s just the game and two regular Joy-Cons), but its price is the reason it’s so popular: it’s by far the cheapest way to get the game and two Joy-Cons, and allows players to save a fair amount of money. In fact, it’s so popular, many retailers are running out of stock. This certainly bodes well for the holiday season!

Super Mario Party has now sold over 400 000 units (419 906 to be precise), and it’s only going to keep selling more and more through December. It’s pretty clear it will be one of the key games of the holiday seasons on Nintendo Switch.

Meanwhile, the usual evergreen titles in the Top 10 from Media Create are still faring well. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe saw its sales slightly increase this week (+11%), to 12 979 units. It’s steadily moving towards the 1.9 million units milestone, the last one before 2 million units LTD! As for Splatoon 2, it sold 12 182 units this week (+16%), and came close to outselling its karting rival again. It’s now sold 2 721 594 units, and will reach 3 million units at retail in early 2019.

Finally, Minecraft just keeps on selling merrily, with 11 671 additional units this week. Thanks to the holiday seasons, sales are only going to go up from now and until the end of the month. Minecraft has already sold 386 837 units, and could potentially reach 400 000 units next week.

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

  • 11./11. [NSW] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild  (Nintendo) – 6.469 / 1.172.750 (-6%). Small drop this week, but it’s only temporary;
  • 12./13. [NSW] Super Mario Odyssey (Nintendo) – 5.843 / 1.856.834 (+10%). Holiday season boosting sales;
  • 16./12. [3DS] Luigi’s Mansion  (Nintendo) – 5.004 / 48.334 (-25%). Holiday season not doing much for this one, unfortunately. It looks like even reaching 100 000 units is going to be tough…
  • 18./17. [NSW] Kirby Star Allies (Nintendo) – 4.391 / 650.593 (+10%). 3rd major update + holiday sales = sales increasing!
  • 20./16. [3DS] Pokémon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon (Pokemon Co.) – 4.118 / 1.768.591 (-1%). Sales remain steady, but it might drop from the Top 20 from Media Create next week.

Media Create – Software Top 50

01./01. [NSW] Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! / Let’s Go, Eevee! # <RPG> (Pokemon Co.) {2018.11.16} (¥5.980) – 94.753 / 918.459 (-42%)
02./00. [3DS] Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth <RPG> (Atlus) {2018.11.29} (¥6.980) – 79.747 / NEW
03./05. [NSW] Super Mario Party # <ETC> (Nintendo) {2018.10.05} (¥5.980) – 49.829 / 419.906 (+104%)
04./02. [PS4] Battlefield V <ACT> (Electronic Arts) {2018.11.20} (¥7.800) – 20.116 / 130.770 (-82%)
05./00. [NSW] Kamen Rider: Climax Scramble Zi-O # <FTG> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.11.29} (¥6.800) – 14.465 / NEW
06./07. [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe <RCE> (Nintendo) {2017.04.28} (¥5.980) – 12.979 / 1.860.756 (+11%)
07./08. [NSW] Splatoon 2 # <ACT> (Nintendo) {2017.07.21} (¥5.980) – 12.182 / 2.721.594 (+16%)
08./10. [NSW] Minecraft # <ADV> (Microsoft Game Studios) {2018.06.21} (¥3.600) – 11.671 / 386.837 (+19%)
09./09. [PS4] Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII <ACT> (Sony Interactive Entertainment) {2018.10.12} (¥7.900) – 8.039 / 478.982 (-20%)
10./00. [PS4] Dead by Daylight <ADV> (3goo) {2018.11.29} (¥5.600) – 7.005 / NEW
11./11. [NSW] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild # <ADV> (Nintendo) {2017.03.03} (¥6.980) – 6.469 / 1.172.750 (-6%)
12./13. [NSW] Super Mario Odyssey # <ACT> (Nintendo) {2017.10.27} (¥5.980) – 5.843 / 1.856.834 (+10%)
13./06. [PS4] Fallout 76 # <RPG> (Bethesda Softworks) {2018.11.15} (¥7.980) – 5.669 / 90.958 (-52%)
14./04. [PS4] Shenmue I & II <Shenmue \ Shenmue II> # <ADV> (Sega) {2018.11.22} (¥3.990) – 5.592 / 43.121 (-85%)
15./03. [PS4] Disaster Report 4 Plus: Summer Memories <ADV> (Granzella) {2018.11.22} (¥7.200) – 5.211 / 47.483 (-88%)
16./12. [3DS] Luigi’s Mansion <ACT> (Nintendo) {2018.11.08} (¥4.980) – 5.004 / 48.334 (-25%)
17./00. [NSW] Billion Road <TBL> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.11.29} (¥5.700) – 4.682 / NEW
18./17. [NSW] Kirby Star Allies <ACT> (Nintendo) {2018.03.16} (¥5.980) – 4.391 / 650.593 (+10%)
19./00. [PS4] Lapis x Labyrinth <RPG> (Nippon Ichi Software) {2018.11.29} (¥6.980) – 4.144 / NEW
20./16. [3DS] Pokemon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon <RPG> (Pokemon Co.) {2017.11.17} (¥4.980) – 4.118 / 1.768.591 (-1%)
21./00. [NSW] Lapis x Labyrinth <RPG> (Nippon Ichi Software) {2018.11.29} (¥6.980)
22./00. [NSW] Super Run For Money Tousouchuu & Super Battle For Money Sentouchuu Double Pack <Super Run For Money Tousouchuu Atsumare! Saikyou no Tousou Monotachi \ Super Battle For Money Sentouchuu: Kyuukyoku no Shinobu to Battle Player Choujou Kessen!> <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.11.29} (¥5.300)
23./15. [PS4] Red Dead Redemption II # <ACT> (Take-Two Interactive Japan) {2018.10.26} (¥8.800)
24./00. [PS4] Ketsui Deathtiny: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi <STG> (M2) {2018.11.29} (¥6.800)
25./00. [PS4] Million Arthur: Arcana Blood <FTG> (Square Enix) {2018.11.29} (¥6.980)
26./20. [NSW] Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.07.19} (¥6.100)
27./21. [NSW] Mario Tennis Aces <SPT> (Nintendo) {2018.06.22} (¥5.980)
28./22. [3DS] Animal Crossing: New Leaf – Welcome amiibo # <ETC> (Nintendo) {2016.11.23} (¥2.700)
29./24. [NSW] Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker <ADV> (Nintendo) {2018.07.13} (¥3.980)
30./25. [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)
31./28. [NSW] Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 03: Drive Kit <EDU> (Nintendo) {2018.09.14} (¥6.980)
32./14. [3DS] Cats Together <ETC> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.11.21} (¥5.300)
33./00. [NSW] Super Bomberman R [Smile Price Collection] <ACT> (Konami) {2018.11.29} (¥2.760)
34./33. [3DS] WarioWare Gold <ETC> (Nintendo) {2018.08.02} (¥4.980)
35./19. [PS4] Hitman 2 <ADV> (Warner Entertainment Japan) {2018.11.15} (¥7.800)
36./31. [NSW] FIFA 19 # <SPT> (Electronic Arts) {2018.09.28} (¥5.800)
37./27. [PS4] Winning Eleven 2019 <SPT> (Konami) {2018.08.30} (¥7.600)
38./32. [NSW] Dragon Ball FighterZ <FTG> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.09.27} (¥6.800)
39./23. [PS4] Marvel’s Spider-Man # <ADV> (Sony Interactive Entertainment) {2018.09.07} (¥6.900)
40./18. [NSW] Nari Kids Park: Hugtto! PreCure <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.11.21} (¥4.800)
41./43. [3DS] Mario Party: The Top 100 <ETC> (Nintendo) {2017.12.28} (¥4.980)
42./35. [3DS] Mario Kart 7 # <RCE> (Nintendo) {2011.12.01} (¥4.571)
43./38. [3DS] Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker <ADV> (Nintendo) {2018.07.13} (¥3.980)
44./41. [NSW] Sumikko Gurashi: Atsumare! Sumikko Town <ETC> (Nippon Columbia) {2018.10.04} (¥5.800)
45./42. [PS4] FIFA 19 # <SPT> (Electronic Arts) {2018.09.28} (¥7.800)
46./39. [NSW] Pro Baseball Famista Evolution <SPT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.08.02} (¥6.100)
47./34. [NSW] Cats Together <ETC> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.11.01} (¥5.700)
48./00. [PSV] Beniiro Tenjou Ayakashi Kitan Futaai <ADV> (Dramatic Create) {2018.11.29} (¥7.800)
49./37. [PS4] Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey # <RPG> (Ubisoft) {2018.10.05} (¥8.400)
50./00. [NSW] Overcooked! 2 <ACT> (Team 17) {2018.11.29} (¥3.800)

Media Create Software Week 48 2018

Media Create – Number of games in Top 50

NSW – 24
PS4 – 16
3DS – 9
PSV – 1

Media Create – Hardware

This week, Nintendo Switch sales went back up following the post-Pokémon: Let’s Go launch drop. It sold 120 546 units (about 12 000 units more than during the previous week), which is a farily solid performance… though one wouldn’t be blamed for expecting a bit more (closer to 150 000 units). In fact, this is somethig that could be said for Nintendo Switch sales this year!

Unfortunately, sales are once again down Year on Year, though not by much: roughly 4 000 units. And that’s also the difference between 48 2018 and Week 48 2017, since yearly sales were basically flat as of Week 47. It looks like even if sales were to increase dramatically during the remaining weeks of the year, with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and the holiday season, 2018 will not see a major increase in sales… which is surprising given the total lack of shortages so far this year (minus for the first couple of weeks in January).

The next few weeks are going to be critical for the Nintendo Switch in Japan, as it’s the first holiday season without shortages, and with major games aimed at a wide audience like Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! / Let’s Go, Eevee! and Super Smash Bros. Nintendo is clearly banking on that holiday season to wide the audience of its console, so disappointing sales would definitely be bad news.

As for the Nintendo 3DS, sales did increase slightly this week and finally went back up the 10 000 units/week threshold… but they didn’t go much further, with 10 435 units sold. That’s over 3 times less than last year during the same week, and in line with the Year on Year drops this year. As expected, the holiday season isn’t going to do much for Nintendo’s handheld this year!

Media Create Hardware Week 48 2018 chart
Media Create Hardware Week 48 2018 pie
Media Create Hardware Week 48 2018 pie

Famitsu – Software Top 30

01./00. [3DS] Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth <RPG> (Atlus) {2018.11.29} (¥6.980) – 74.425 / NEW <40-60%>
02./01. [NSW] Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! / Let’s Go, Eevee! # <RPG> (Pokemon Co.) {2018.11.16} (¥5.980) – 74.306 / 896.198 <60-80%> (-53%)
03./04. [NSW] Super Mario Party # <ETC> (Nintendo) {2018.10.05} (¥5.980) – 40.612 / 388.210 <60-80%> (+93%)
04./02. [PS4] Battlefield V <ACT> (Electronic Arts) {2018.11.20} (¥7.800) – 19.054 / 117.159 <40-60%> (-81%)
05./06. [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe <RCE> (Nintendo) {2017.04.28} (¥5.980) – 15.294 / 1.878.563 <80-100%> (+11%)
06./09. [NSW] Minecraft # <ADV> (Microsoft Game Studios) {2018.06.21} (¥3.600) – 15.131 / 391.456 <80-100%> (+51%)
07./00. [NSW] Kamen Rider: Climax Scramble Zi-O # <FTG> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.11.29} (¥6.800) – 12.134 / NEW <20-40%>
08./08. [NSW] Splatoon 2 # <ACT> (Nintendo) {2017.07.21} (¥5.980) – 10.896 / 2.757.509 <80-100%> (+8%)
09./00. [PS4] Dead by Daylight <ADV> (3goo) {2018.11.29} (¥5.600) – 7.517 / NEW <20-40%>
10./10. [PS4] Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII <ACT> (Sony Interactive Entertainment) {2018.10.12} (¥7.900) – 6.262 / 457.732 <80-100%> (-26%)
11./03. [PS4] Disaster Report 4 Plus: Summer Memories <ADV> (Granzella) {2018.11.22} (¥7.200) – 6.020 / 44.996 <60-80%> (-85%)
12./07. [PS4] Fallout 76 # <RPG> (Bethesda Softworks) {2018.11.15} (¥7.980) – 5.783 / 78.289 <80-100%> (-53%)
13./13. [NSW] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild # <ADV> (Nintendo) {2017.03.03} (¥6.980) – 5.612 / 1.133.299 <80-100%> (-7%)
14./15. [NSW] Super Mario Odyssey # <ACT> (Nintendo) {2017.10.27} (¥5.980) – 4.923 / 1.845.988 <80-100%> (+0%)
15./11. [3DS] Luigi’s Mansion <ACT> (Nintendo) {2018.11.08} (¥4.980) – 4.833 / 51.860 <60-80%> (-30%)
16./16. [3DS] Pokemon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon # <RPG> (Pokemon Co.) {2017.11.17} (¥4.980) – 4.512 / 2.404.888 <80-100%> (-2%)
17./00. [NSW] Super Run For Money Tousouchuu & Super Battle For Money Sentouchuu Double Pack <Super Run For Money Tousouchuu Atsumare! Saikyou no Tousou Monotachi \ Super Battle For Money Sentouchuu: Kyuukyoku no Shinobu to Battle Player Choujou Kessen!> <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.11.29} (¥5.300) – 4.211 / NEW <20-40%>
18./00. [PS4] Lapis x Labyrinth <RPG> (Nippon Ichi Software) {2018.11.29} (¥6.980) – 4.003 / NEW <40-60%>
19./00. [NSW] Lapis x Labyrinth <RPG> (Nippon Ichi Software) {2018.11.29} (¥6.980) – 3.725 / NEW <40-60%>
20./00. [NSW] Billion Road <TBL> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.11.29} (¥5.700) – 3.651 / NEW <0-20%>
21./00. [PS4] Million Arthur: Arcana Blood <FTG> (Square Enix) {2018.11.29} (¥6.980) – 3.477 / NEW <20-40%>
22./05. [PS4] Shenmue I & II <Shenmue \ Shenmue II> # <ADV> (Sega) {2018.11.22} (¥3.990) – 3.346 / 23.047 <60-80%> (-83%)
23./20. [NSW] Kirby Star Allies <ACT> (Nintendo) {2018.03.16} (¥5.980) – 3.201 / 626.152 <80-100%> (+7%)
24./21. [NSW] Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.07.19} (¥6.100) – 3.131 / 230.846 <80-100%> (+12%)
25./17. [PS4] Red Dead Redemption II # <ACT> (Take-Two Interactive Japan) {2018.10.26} (¥8.800) – 3.103 / 196.755 <80-100%> (-26%)
26./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) – 2.105 / 219.227 <80-100%> (+6%)
27./26. [NSW] Mario Tennis Aces <SPT> (Nintendo) {2018.06.22} (¥5.980) – 1.706 / 355.422 <80-100%> (-4%)
28./25. [NSW] FIFA 19 # <SPT> (Electronic Arts) {2018.09.28} (¥5.800) – 1.691 / 39.871 <60-80%> (-6%)
29./19. [PS4] Hitman 2 <ADV> (Warner Entertainment Japan) {2018.11.15} (¥7.800) – 1.598 / 15.571 <40-60%> (-51%)
30./27. [3DS] Animal Crossing: New Leaf – Welcome amiibo # <ETC> (Nintendo) {2016.11.23} (¥2.700) – 1.562 / 410.412 <80-100%> (-3%)

Famitsu – Number of games in Top 30

NSW – 15
PS4 – 11
3DS – 4

Famitsu – Hardware

Famitsu Hardware Week 48 2018

Click here for more Japanese sales data!

Source: Media Create (via 4Gamer) / Famitsu
Data compiled by: Chris1964 (ResetEra)
Additional data via: Game Data Library

Lite_Agent

Founder and main writer for Perfectly Nintendo. Tried really hard to find something funny and witty to put here, but had to admit defeat.