Pikmin 4, the popular game developed by Nintendo, has once again topped the charts as the best-selling game in Japan for the second consecutive month. The game sold an impressive 235,000 copies in August, bringing its lifetime sales to a staggering 753,000 units.
This achievement is noteworthy as Pikmin 4 has managed to surpass the previous sales record set by its predecessor, Pikmin 3 Deluxe for the Nintendo Switch, which sold 660,000 copies in its lifetime. Pikmin 4 has achieved this milestone in just two months since its release.
In the midst of Pikmin 4’s success, FromSoftware’s Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon made its debut in the charts, landing in the second position. Although it was released on August 25, just two days before the data collection period for August ended, Armored Core 6 failed to surpass the sales of its predecessor, Armored Core 5. The 2012 release of Armored Core 5 sold 194,000 copies, while this year’s revival managed 163,000 copies, taking only physical sales into account. However, it is important to note that with the growth of the digital market, it is likely that FromSoftware’s latest installment sold more copies overall.
Other notable games in the top charts include Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which rose from fifth to third place due to increased sales, reaching a total of nearly 5.5 million copies sold in Japan. The top-selling console in Japan once again is the Nintendo Switch, with a total of 334,000 units sold across all three models, including 258,000 units of the OLED version. However, there was a decline of 18% in console sales compared to the previous month.
Overall, the Japanese gaming market saw a decrease in both physical game sales and hardware sales. Last month, 1.25 million boxed games were sold, representing a 27% decrease from the previous month. Hardware sales also experienced a decline of 20%, with a total of 530,000 units sold.
In conclusion, Pikmin 4 continues to dominate the Japanese gaming market, surpassing sales records and solidifying its position as the top-selling game for the second consecutive month. The gaming landscape in Japan remains dynamic, with new releases trying to compete for the top spots in the charts.
Definitions:
1. Pikmin 4: A popular garden critter adventure game developed by Nintendo.
2. Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon: A game developed by FromSoftware, known for their distinct style and immersive gameplay.
3. Famitsu: A leading Japanese gaming magazine that provides sales data and news updates on the gaming industry.
Sources:
Famitsu (sales data)