Nintendo has led the Japanese games market for almost two decades 1

Nintendo has led the Japanese games market for almost two decades

In a scenario of constant evolution in the world of video games, Nintendo continues to write its success story in Japan.

For the 19th consecutive year, the giant of games maintained its dominance in hardware and software sales, as revealed by Famitsu’s annual report.

Nintendo has been at the top of sales in Japan for 19 years in a row

Nintendo has led the Japanese games market for almost two decades 2

The brand has led the Japanese games market since 2005 – Image: Nintendo/Reproduction

Nintendo, one of the most traditional companies in the world of electronic games, is about to celebrate two decades at the top of the Japanese market.

Since 2005, the brand has left no room for competition, remaining the undisputed leader in sales of physical games in the country.

Famitsu’s latest report shows that Nintendo has once again achieved the feat of having all ten best-selling games belonging to the Nintendo Switchin 2023 in Japan.

This absolute dominance is not something new, the last time the brand lost this position was in 2004, when the PlayStation 2 reigned with eight of the ten best-selling titles.

The hardware scenario follows the same tone, with the Switch maintaining leadership in the country.

Except for a brief period where the PSP managed to stand out, platforms like the DS, 3DS, and more recently the Switch have been the overwhelming preference of Japanese consumers.

Nintendo numbers are impressive

Nintendo has led the Japanese games market for almost two decades 3Nintendo has led the Japanese games market for almost two decades 4

The company became the best-selling console in Japan in 2023 – Image: Nintendo/Reproduction

The success of the Nintendo Switch is evident in the sales numbers. As of 2023, more than 4 million units have been purchased in Japan, totaling almost 32 million since launch in 2017.

This robust performance comes even as the console approaches seven years old. Compared to the competition, the PlayStation 5 (PS5) from Sony came in second place with 2.6 million units sold in 2023.

A notable increase of 124% year-on-year, reflecting increased availability following Covid-19 related supply challenges. However, it still lagged behind the Switch.

Microsoft’s Xbox Series X|S underperformed, selling just over 141,000 units in 2023, which represents a 47% drop compared to the previous year.

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Meanwhile, the PS4 saw an astonishing 221% increase, with sales surpassing 73,000 units in 2023.

Despite the Switch’s continued success, attention is beginning to turn to the future. Rumors indicate that Nintendo may be preparing to reveal the successor to this console in September this year, with a launch scheduled for the festivities at the end of 2024.