[Japan] Media Create sales for Week 51, 2018 (December 17th – December 23rd) [Top 50]

Here’s the latest sales report from Media Create (and Famitsu), covering Week 51 2018 in Japan. Important note: the report for Week 52, 2018 will only be available on January 10th, due to the New Year break.

Media Create

Week 51 is by far the biggest week of the year for video games sales in Japan, and looking at the Top 20 from Media Create, it clearly shows. There are a few entries, but they were massively outsold by popular games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Let’s start with Dragon Quest Builders 2, which sold about 207 000 units at launch on the two platforms it was launched on. It’s much worse than the first entry, which sold over 350 000 units at launch. What’s more, due to its high price, it’s unlikely the game will sell on the long run, though the Nintendo Switch version should fare slightly better than the PlayStation 4 one.

At launch, the Nintendo Switch version sold about 97 673 units, which is lower than the PlayStation 4 version. This discrepancy is due to several factors:

• many fans already bought a PlayStation 4 for Dragon Quest Builders, and with the Nintendo Switch still being quite expensive, decided to get the sequel on the same platform
• strong competition from other games on Nintendo Switch, targeting the same audience (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, but also Minecraft which is quite cheaper)

As for the game itself, its underperformance is mostly due to the following:

• high price. Dragon Quests Builders is really expensive, much more than Minecraft. This will hurt sales in the long run, with a big drop expected once the holiday season is over;
• it’s the second game, which means there’s no more novelty factor. Many fans either got their fill with the first one, or simply realised they didn’t like that kind of game after all. Other players may have found this sequel didn’t really offer enough new content and features compared to the first one, too.

All in all, Dragon Quest Builders 2 didn’t exactly flop, but its sales are certainly quite disappointing. Right, it’s highly unlikely sales will come anywhere near the total sales of the first one.

Unfortunately, the Nintendo Switch version of Onimusha: Warlords didn’t chart, which means it sold less than 10 140 units. It was expected that the PlayStation 4 version would be the best-selling one, but it looks like the difference between the two versions was even bigger than expected.

Despite lukewarm Day 1 sales, Katamari Damacy Reroll did pretty decently with 11 665 units sold during the first 3 days. In comparison, the original version on PlayStation 2 sold about 30 000 units at launch, so 1/3 of sales for a remake isn’t all that bad. But the problem comes from long-term sales: the original ended up selling over 300 000 units, and it’s unlikely this remake will reach even 100 000 units…

After a strong debut, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate keeps selling at a strong and steady pace. Sales actually increased this week, which is quite the feat for a game released so recently, and to such high numbers… of course, this wouldn’t have been possible if Week 51 wasn’t the biggest week of the year for video game sales!

Media Create report a 11% increase for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate this week, with 452 617 units sold this week. It’s now sold over 2 million units (2 079 769 units to be precise), which happened in less than a month. Since sales are inevitably going to drop during the last week, it looks like we can expect total retail sales to top 220 000 / 230 000 units in 2018. Unless sales drop like a rock and never recover, we can safely expect total sales to reach 3 million units sometime in 2019.

As for Super Mario Party, Media Create report yet another week of increase (the last consecutive one, since Week 52 will see a drop) with +59%. The game sold over 150 000 units this week, bringing the total to 742 355 units. Unless the Week 52 drop is really bad, the 800 000 units milestone will be reached before the end of the year, and sales will top 1 million units during the first half of 2019.

Meanwhile, Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! / Let’s Go, Eevee! saw a more subdued increase in sales: +33%, which is a bit weak for Week 51 (but in no way bad). It ended up selling 144 770 additional units, bringing the total since launch to 1 265 790 units. We can safely expect the 1.5 million units milestone to be reached in January, though this will depend on how strong Week 52 and Week 1 sales are.

The usual evergreen titles on Nintendo Switch also performed strongly during Week 51: they all sold over 40 000 units each. Minecraft sold the most and saw the biggest increase Week on Week, with 48 359 units sold (+75%). It will reach 500 000 units during Week 52, and 1 million units sometime in 2019.

As for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, it will reach 2 million units during the first Week of 2019. It sold 47 096 units during Week 51, and if not for the expected drop for Week 52, it would have become a multi-million seller this very year. There’s still a chance it does reach 2 million units this year, since it’s now sold 1 958 270 units LTD.

Finally, Splatoon 2 is drawing close to 3 million units LTD at retail, with 2 809 117 units sold to date according to Media Create. It did get a nice boost thanks to Christmas, with +53% this week (41 405 units sold).

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] Kirby Star Allies (Nintendo) – 21.643 / 691.939 (+80%). One of the biggest increases this week. 700 000 units milestone next week!
• 12./09. [NSW] Super Mario Odyssey (Nintendo) – 21.384 / 1.902.226 (+48%). It will become a multi-million seller in early 2019;
• 14./10. [NSW] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo) – 16.093 / 1.212.043 (+18%). Sales are bound to slow down next year, but here’s one last boost for 2018;
• 15./14. [NSW] Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! (Bandai Namco Games) – 15.580 / 259.863 (+93%). Sales nearly doubled during the biggest week of the year;
• 16./13. [3DS] Luigi’s Mansion (Nintendo) {2018.11.08} (¥4.980) – 15.325 / 79.700 (+60%). Thanks to the holiday season, it will not have any trouble reaching 100 000 units, but it’s not exactly something worth celebrating: it definitely could have sold at least twice that had it been released much earlier than November 2018…
• 19./20. [NSW] Mario Tennis Aces (Nintendo) – 10.957 / 392.757 (+106%). The biggest increase Week on Week, bringing the game pretty close to the 400 000 units milestone. It will reach 500 000 units LTD next year!
• 20./16. [3DS] Pokemon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon (Pokemon Co.) – 10.140 / 1.790.327 (+52%). It almost dropped from the Top 20 provided by Media Create, but its strong holiday sales prevented that.

Media Create – Software Top 50

01./01. [NSW] Super Smash Bros. Ultimate # <FTG> (Nintendo) {2018.12.07} (¥7.200) – 452.617 / 2.079.769 (+11%)
02./05. [NSW] Super Mario Party # <ETC> (Nintendo) {2018.10.05} (¥5.980) – 155.060 / 742.355 (+59%)
03./04. [NSW] Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! / Let’s Go, Eevee! # <RPG> (Pokemon Co.) {2018.11.16} (¥5.980) – 144.770 / 1.265.790 (+33%)
04./00. [PS4] Dragon Quest Builders 2 <ADV> (Square Enix) {2018.12.20} (¥7.800) – 110.285 / NEW
05./00. [NSW] Dragon Quest Builders 2 <ADV> (Square Enix) {2018.12.20} (¥7.800) – 97.673 / NEW
06./07. [NSW] Minecraft # <ADV> (Microsoft Game Studios) {2018.06.21} (¥3.600) – 48.359 / 479.769 (+75%)
07./06. [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe <RCE> (Nintendo) {2017.04.28} (¥5.980) – 47.096 / 1.958.270 (+60%)
08./08. [NSW] Splatoon 2 # <ACT> (Nintendo) {2017.07.21} (¥5.980) – 41.405 / 2.809.117 (+53%)
09./03. [PS4] Judgment <ADV> (Sega) {2018.12.13} (¥8.290) – 37.643 / 185.889 (-75%)
10./02. [PS4] God Eater 3 # <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.12.13} (¥8.200) – 25.039 / 175.562 (-83%)
11./11. [NSW] Kirby Star Allies <ACT> (Nintendo) {2018.03.16} (¥5.980) – 21.643 / 691.939 (+80%)
12./09. [NSW] Super Mario Odyssey # <ACT> (Nintendo) {2017.10.27} (¥5.980) – 21.384 / 1.902.226 (+48%)
13./00. [PS4] Onimusha: Warlords # <ADV> (Capcom) {2018.12.20} (¥3.490) – 21.367 / NEW
14./10. [NSW] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild # <ADV> (Nintendo) {2017.03.03} (¥6.980) – 16.093 / 1.212.043 (+18%)
15./14. [NSW] Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.07.19} (¥6.100) – 15.580 / 259.863 (+93%)
16./13. [3DS] Luigi’s Mansion <ACT> (Nintendo) {2018.11.08} (¥4.980) – 15.325 / 79.700 (+60%)
17./00. [NSW] Katamari Damacy Reroll <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.12.20} (¥3.200) – 11.665 / NEW
18./00. [PS4] Super Neptunia RPG # <RPG> (Compile Heart) {2018.12.20} (¥7.200) – 11.521 / NEW
19./20. [NSW] Mario Tennis Aces <SPT> (Nintendo) {2018.06.22} (¥5.980) – 10.957 / 392.757 (+106%)
20./16. [3DS] Pokemon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon <RPG> (Pokemon Co.) {2017.11.17} (¥4.980) – 10.140 / 1.790.327 (+52%)
21./18. [NSW] Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 03: Drive Kit <EDU> (Nintendo) {2018.09.14} (¥6.980)
22./19. [NSW] Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker <ADV> (Nintendo) {2018.07.13} (¥3.980)
23./00. [NSW] Onimusha: Warlords # <ACT> (Capcom) {2018.12.20} (¥3.490)
24./37. [NSW] Dragon Ball FighterZ <FTG> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.09.27} (¥6.800)
25./32. [3DS] Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS <FTG> (Nintendo) {2014.09.13} (¥5.200)
26./24. [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)
27./22. [3DS] Animal Crossing: New Leaf – Welcome amiibo # <ETC> (Nintendo) {2016.11.23} (¥2.700)
28./17. [PS4] Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII <ACT> (Sony Interactive Entertainment) {2018.10.12} (¥7.900)
29./26. [3DS] Mario Party: The Top 100 <ETC> (Nintendo) {2017.12.28} (¥4.980)
30./31. [NSW] Sumikko Gurashi: Atsumare! Sumikko Town <ETC> (Nippon Columbia) {2018.10.04} (¥5.800)
31./34. [NSW] FIFA 19 # <SPT> (Electronic Arts) {2018.09.28} (¥5.800)
32./33. [3DS] WarioWare Gold <ETC> (Nintendo) {2018.08.02} (¥4.980)
33./30. [3DS] Mario Kart 7 # <RCE> (Nintendo) {2011.12.01} (¥4.571)
34./27. [3DS] Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker <ADV> (Nintendo) {2018.07.13} (¥3.980)
35./36. [3DS] Cats Together <ETC> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.11.21} (¥5.300)
36./25. [NSW] Kamen Rider: Climax Scramble Zi-O # <FTG> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.11.29} (¥6.800)
37./29. [NSW] Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 01: Variety Kit <EDU> (Nintendo) {2018.04.20} (¥6.980)
38./39. [NSW] Pro Baseball Famista Evolution <SPT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.08.02} (¥6.100)
39./15. [PS4] Battlefield V <ACT> (Electronic Arts) {2018.11.20} (¥7.800)
40./00. [PS4] Kunio-Kun: The World Classics Collection <Renegade \ Super Dodge Ball \ River City Ransom \ Nintendo World Cup \ Downtown Nekketsu Koushinkyoku: Soreyuke Daiundoukai \ Downtown Special: Kunio-Kun no Jidaigeki Dayo Zenin Shuugou! \ Crash ‘n the Boys: Ice Challenge \ Crash ‘n the Boys: Street Challenge \ Nekketsu Kakutou Densetsu \ Kunio-Kun no Nekketsu: Soccer League \ Nekketsu! Street Basket: Ganbare Dunk Heroes \ Double Dragon \ Double Dragon II: The Revenge \ Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones> <ETC> (Arc System Works) {2018.12.20} (¥5.370)
41./00. [NSW] Kunio-Kun: The World Classics Collection <Renegade \ Super Dodge Ball \ River City Ransom \ Nintendo World Cup \ Downtown Nekketsu Koushinkyoku: Soreyuke Daiundoukai \ Downtown Special: Kunio-Kun no Jidaigeki Dayo Zenin Shuugou! \ Crash ‘n the Boys: Ice Challenge \ Crash ‘n the Boys: Street Challenge \ Nekketsu Kakutou Densetsu \ Kunio-Kun no Nekketsu: Soccer League \ Nekketsu! Street Basket: Ganbare Dunk Heroes \ Double Dragon \ Double Dragon II: The Revenge \ Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones> <ETC> (Arc System Works) {2018.12.20} (¥5.370)
42./43. [NSW] 1-2-Switch <ETC> (Nintendo) {2017.03.03} (¥4.980)
43./28. [NSW] Fortnite # <ACT> (Warner Entertainment Japan) {2018.12.13} (¥3.000)
44./40. [NSW] Arms <FTG> (Nintendo) {2017.06.16} (¥5.980)
45./45. [NSW] Cats Together <ETC> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.11.01} (¥5.700)
46./38. [PS4] Winning Eleven 2019 <SPT> (Konami) {2018.08.30} (¥7.600)
47./48. [NSW] Beyblade Burst: Battle Zero <RPG> (FuRyu) {2018.10.25} (¥6.980)
48./41. [3DS] Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS <ACT> (Nintendo) {2016.12.01} (¥4.700)
49./21. [PS4] Just Cause 4 <ACT> (Square Enix) {2018.12.06} (¥7.980)
50./50. [NSW] Sumikko Gurashi: Sumikko Park e Youkoso <ETC> (Nippon Columbia) {2017.12.07} (¥5.800)

Media Create – Number of games in Top 50

NSW – 30
3DS – 10
PS4 – 10

Media Create – Hardware

Week 51 is by far the biggest week of the year for the video game market in Japan, and so it’s quite surprising that Hardware sales would be down this week. And it’s not just the Nintendo Switch: even the PlayStation 4 saw its sales drop. Of course, sales are still up Year on Year, but that Week on Week drop is not something anyone could have seen coming.

For the Nintendo Switch specifically, Nintendo Switch are very slightly down Week on Week. It sold 278 701 units this week, as opposed to 281 213 units during Week 50. This is quite surprising, though there is definitely some good reasons that minor drop happened:

• the launch of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate had a stronger impact on sales than expected, leading people to buy the console earlier even as a Christmas present;
• December 24th, a big shopping day, was “cut” from Week 51 this year, and its sales will be for Week 52 instead.

Of course, that drop is no big deal in itself, especially as Year on Year, sales are actually up (the Nintendo Switch sold 269 684 units last year during Week 51, which did have December 24th included). Though of course, without shortages, one could have expected sales to be higher than they were (but that’s something that can be said for 2018 as a whole, not just Week 51).

It looks like total sales for 2018 will end up slightly higher than 2017 sales, since as of Week 51, the Nintendo Switch has sold 3 359 395 units in 2018 (as opposed to 3 178 100 units in 2017). Even if Week 52 sales were even lower than expected, sales will still end up increasing Year on Year, though by a much lower marging than initially expected.

Also, Nintendo 3DS sales increased to 26 936 units: the highest they’ve been in a long while. Unfortunately, that’s a major drop Year on Year, since the handheld sold 80 637 units during Week 51 2017. But even last year, it didn’t reach 100 000 units during the biggest week of the year, so it was expected that Week 51 2018 sales would be low. The Nintendo 3DS will end the year with barely a little over 550 000 units sold.

Famitsu – Software Top 30

01./01. [NSW] Super Smash Bros. Ultimate # <FTG> (Nintendo) {2018.12.07} (¥7.200) – 424.127 / 2.106.678 <80-100%> (-5%)
02./05. [NSW] Super Mario Party # <ETC> (Nintendo) {2018.10.05} (¥5.980) – 134.593 / 678.588 <80-100%> (+54%)
03./00. [PS4] Dragon Quest Builders 2 <ADV> (Square Enix) {2018.12.20} (¥7.800) – 131.514 / NEW <40-60%>
04./00. [NSW] Dragon Quest Builders 2 <ADV> (Square Enix) {2018.12.20} (¥7.800) – 127.404 / NEW <40-60%>
05./04. [NSW] Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! / Let’s Go, Eevee! # <RPG> (Pokemon Co.) {2018.11.16} (¥5.980) – 126.312 / 1.195.330 <80-100%> (+31%)
06./07. [NSW] Minecraft # <ADV> (Microsoft Game Studios) {2018.06.21} (¥3.600) – 51.064 / 492.751 <80-100%> (+70%)
07./06. [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe <RCE> (Nintendo) {2017.04.28} (¥5.980) – 49.924 / 1.984.545 <80-100%> (+57%)
08./08. [NSW] Splatoon 2 # <ACT> (Nintendo) {2017.07.21} (¥5.980) – 40.809 / 2.843.134 <80-100%> (+56%)
09./02. [PS4] Judgment <ADV> (Sega) {2018.12.13} (¥8.290) – 40.254 / 193.831 <60-80%> (-74%)
10./03. [PS4] God Eater 3 # <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.12.13} (¥8.200) – 25.840 / 159.499 <60-80%> (-81%)
11./09. [NSW] Super Mario Odyssey # <ACT> (Nintendo) {2017.10.27} (¥5.980) – 21.116 / 1.888.651 <80-100%> (+56%)
12./00. [PS4] Onimusha: Warlords # <ACT> (Capcom) {2018.12.20} (¥3.490) – 20.435 / NEW <60-80%>
13./13. [NSW] Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.07.19} (¥6.100) – 15.796 / 260.397 <80-100%> (+93%)
14./12. [NSW] Kirby Star Allies <ACT> (Nintendo) {2018.03.16} (¥5.980) – 15.699 / 656.367 <80-100%> (+81%)
15./11. [NSW] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild # <ADV> (Nintendo) {2017.03.03} (¥6.980) – 14.704 / 1.165.629 <80-100%> (+37%)
16./14. [3DS] Luigi’s Mansion <ACT> (Nintendo) {2018.11.08} (¥4.980) – 12.703 / 77.684 <60-80%> (+70%)
17./00. [PS4] Super Neptunia RPG # <RPG> (Compile Heart) {2018.12.20} (¥7.200) – 12.030 / NEW <60-80%>
18./16. [3DS] Pokemon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon # <RPG> (Pokemon Co.) {2017.11.17} (¥4.980) – 10.571 / 2.427.054 <80-100%> (+58%)
19./00. [NSW] Katamari Damacy Reroll <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.12.20} (¥3.200) – 10.248 / NEW <40-60%>
20./00. [NSW] Onimusha: Warlords # <ACT> (Capcom) {2018.12.20} (¥3.490) – 8.421 / NEW <40-60%>
21./29. [NSW] Dragon Ball FighterZ <FTG> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.09.27} (¥6.800) – 7.880 / 60.057 <60-80%> (+145%)
22./20. [NSW] Mario Tennis Aces <SPT> (Nintendo) {2018.06.22} (¥5.980) – 7.875 / 370.444 <80-100%> (+86%)
23./19. [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) – 7.809 / 19.301 <60-80%> (+73%)
24./21. [NSW] FIFA 19 # <SPT> (Electronic Arts) {2018.09.28} (¥5.800) – 7.380 / 54.113 <60-80%> (+78%)
25./00. [3DS] Mario Party: The Top 100 <ETC> (Nintendo) {2017.12.28} (¥4.980) – 6.681 / 227.757 <80-100%>
26./24. [NSW] Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker <ADV> (Nintendo) {2018.07.13} (¥3.980) – 6.533 / 151.903 <80-100%> (+70%)
27./22. [NSW] Kamen Rider: Climax Scramble Zi-O # <FTG> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.11.29} (¥6.800) – 6.193 / 25.933 <60-80%> (+54%)
28./27. [NSW] Sumikko Gurashi: Atsumare! Sumikko Town <ETC> (Nippon Columbia) {2018.10.04} (¥5.800) – 6.099 / 26.901 <40-60%> (+76%)
29./23. [NSW] Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 03: Drive Kit <EDU> (Nintendo) {2018.09.14} (¥6.980) – 6.035 / 47.994 <60-80%> (+53%)
30./00. [NSW] Pro Baseball Famista Evolution <SPT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.08.02} (¥6.100) – 5.663 / 107.523 <80-100%>

Famitsu – Number of games in Top 30

NSW – 22
PS4 – 5
3DS – 3

Famitsu – Hardware

Click here for more Japanese sales data!

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