Skip to main content

Nintendo Switch moves 2m units during H1 | Japan Monthly Charts

Tears of the Kingdom was the top-selling boxed game, with 1.7 million copies sold during the six-month period

Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox

During the first six months in Japan, the Nintendo Switch moved 1.94 million consoles across its three model units.

Here's what you need to know for Japan's H1 2023:

Famitsu's retail sales data from December 26, 2022, to June 25, 2023, shows that Sony's PlayStation 5 hardware hit 1.4 million systems sold.

Nintendo led boxed title software sales, generating ¥28 billion ($203 million) during the first six months of the year, making up 44% of the market. Second was Square Enix at ¥6.74 billion ($48.6 million) during H1 2023, accounting for 10.6% of physical game sales. Third was the Pokémon Company at 7% of market share with ¥4.68 billion ($34 million).

Regarding physical game units sold during the period, Nintendo's Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was the top-selling boxed game of H1. It's estimated to have sold 1.7 million units in the country. Second was Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, having moved a combined 719,000 copies. Nintendo's Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe was the third best-seller with 451,000 boxed games sold.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Japan retail sales during June:

During June in Japan, the Nintendo Switch moved 380,000 consoles across its original, Lite, and OLED units.

Famitsu's monthly retail sales data from May 29 to June 25 shows that Sony's PlayStation 5 hardware hit 215,000 systems sold during the five weeks.

Nintendo led with 422,000 boxed titles in software sales, outpacing Square Enix's 364,000 fueled by the release of Final Fantasy 16. Meanwhile, Capcom was the third top publisher as it moved 83,000 physical game units sold.

The newly released Final Fantasy 16 debuted as the month's top-selling title at 336,000 copies sold on the PlayStation 5. Meanwhile, Nintendo's Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom moved 181,552 boxed copies.

Here are Japan's Top 10 best-selling physical games from December 26, 2022, to June 25, 2023, courtesy of Famitsu:
Rank Title Platform Publisher
1 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Switch Nintendo
2 Pokémon Scarlet/Violet Switch Pokémon Company
3 Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe Switch Nintendo
4 Splatoon 3 Switch Nintendo
5 Final Fantasy 16 PS5 Square Enix
6 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Switch Nintendo
7 Nintendo Switch Sports Switch Nintendo
8 Fire Emblem Engage Switch Nintendo
9 Minecraft: Switch Edition Switch Microsoft Japan
10 Hogwarts Legacy PS5 Warner Bros. Games

Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox

Read this next

Jeffrey Rousseau avatar
Jeffrey Rousseau: Jeffrey joined GamesIndustry.biz in March 2021. Based in Florida, his work focused on the intersectionality of games and media. He enjoys reading, podcasts, staying informed, and learning how people are tackling issues.
Related topics