Detective Pikachu Finds Success in Japanese Charts

Pikachu Spinoff Proves Triumphant 

Famitsu, a trusted source of gaming insights, has unveiled the latest physical sales charts for Japan, and it’s no surprise that Detective Pikachu Returns has emerged as the frontrunner, boasting an impressive debut week with a total of 85,639 copies sold.

The chart features a handful of newcomers making their mark, with The Game of Life for Nintendo Switch securing the second spot by selling 30,267 units. Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Mirage has also made a significant splash, with both the PS5 and PS4 versions breaking into the top 10. Rounding out the new arrivals, Sword Art Online: Last Recollection secures positions 5 and 6 for its PS5 and PS4 editions, respectively.

Pikmin 4 continues to perform strongly, capturing the limelight among the recent releases with an additional 15,748 copies sold. Meanwhile, the Switch iteration of EA Sports FC 24 has managed to cling to the tenth position, clocking in at 6,004 units sold this week.

Here’s the full rundown of this week’s top ten software sales:

1. [NSW] Detective Pikachu Returns (The Pokémon Company, 10/06/23) – 85,639 (New)
2. [NSW] The Game of Life for Nintendo Switch (Takara Tomy, 10/06/23) – 30,267 (New)
3. [PS5] Assassin’s Creed Mirage (Ubisoft, 10/05/23) – 20,407 (New)
4. [NSW] Pikmin 4 (Nintendo, 07/21/23) – 15,748 (898,284)
5. [PS5] Sword Art Online: Last Recollection (Bandai Namco, 10/05/23) – 11,740 (New)
6. [PS4] Sword Art Online: Last Recollection (Bandai Namco, 10/05/23) – 8,554 (New)
7. [PS4] Assassin’s Creed Mirage (Ubisoft, 10/05/23) – 8,029 (New)
8. [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Nintendo, 04/28/17) – 7,491 (5,508,702)
9. [NSW] Pokémon Scarlet / Pokémon Violet (The Pokémon Company, 11/18/22) – 6,571 (5,151,441)
10. [NSW] EA Sports FC 24 (Electronic Arts, 09/29/23) – 6,004 (22,489)

What’s particularly intriguing is the concurrent surge in sales for the Switch OLED Model, likely influenced by the launch of Detective Pikachu Returns. This model has impressively exceeded 100,000 units sold this week, easily outpacing the competition. While the original Switch model and the Switch Lite have experienced slight declines in sales, the overall impact on the market is overshadowed by the OLED model’s remarkable performance.

Here are the figures in full:

• Switch OLED Model – 100,019 (5,798,181)
• PlayStation 5 – 31,995 (3,901,786)
• Switch – 5,137 (19,566,247)
• Switch Lite – 5,085 (5,517,733)
• PlayStation 5 Digital Edition – 1,759 (586,897)
• PlayStation 4 – 1,020 (7,898,896)
• Xbox Series X – 571 (223,801)
• Xbox Series S – 424 (289,261)
• New 2DS LL (including 2DS) – 21 (1,192,423)

The gaming landscape in Japan continues to evolve, with Detective Pikachu Returns making a remarkable entrance and the OLED model of the Nintendo Switch capturing the spotlight. These figures underscore the enduring appeal of gaming in Japan and the enduring popularity of Nintendo’s consoles.

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