The Nintendo Switch has no problem playing against the PlayStation 5 in its home turf in Japan … far from it. Game Data Library, Axios, and IGN report that every game on Famitsu’s August 8th weekly top 30 charts was a Switch title, from Super Mario Maker 2 at number 30 to Minecraft at the top. It’s reportedly the first time a platform has hit these charts since November 1988, when Nintendo’s own Famicom (the basis for the NES) dominated the list.
Nintendo has already controlled the Japanese game charts with multiple platforms. In the early 1990s, Famicom, Super Famicom (also known as Super NES), and Game Boy cemented their positions. However, it is much more difficult to determine the ranking for a single system.
There is also a sharp contrast with the US. While the Switch has outperformed competing consoles in the country and is often successful at selling games (Skyward Sword HD was the top-selling game in July), it typically faces tougher competition from the PlayStation and Xbox ecosystems.
There was no direct explanation for the sweep, although the titles reflect both Nintendo influence and local tastes. Most of the games either come from Nintendo (including Skyward Sword and Mario Kart 8) or come from franchises that have long been popular in Japan, such as Monster Hunter, Taiko no Tatsujin, and Dragon Quest. It also helps Japan handle the biggest wave of COVID-19 pandemic of all time – people may be buying Switch games to keep them and their children entertained at home.
Whatever the reason, the stunt suggests why Nintendo is in no rush to update the Switch beyond humble revisions. Even four years after its market launch, its hybrid console is still one of the hottest gaming systems despite technically superior alternatives.
All of the top 30 best-selling retail games in Japan last week were Nintendo Switch titles, for the first time since at least November 1988 when the top 30 was just Famicom, from a single console. https://t.co/NgQx0p1EoO
– Game Data Library (@GameDataLibrary) August 13, 2021
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