Nintendo Switch games sold millions of copies this fiscal year, but the number of million-selling games has dropped dramatically, both for Nintendo’s exclusives and third-party games.
Nintendo made the reveal during its latest financial report, posting its earnings for the fiscal year ending March 2023. This provided some insight into the company’s earnings, and shone a light on one particular area in which Nintendo underperformed compared to the previous year.
The frequency of Nintendo Switch blockbusters is decreasing
This fiscal year, 27 titles sold over a million copies on the Nintendo Switch, but last year, there were 39. It’s not just Nintendo exclusives; the number of third-party games that hit this milestone dropped from 13 to 8, according to the report.
This fiscal year, 27 titles sold over a million copies on the Nintendo Switch, but last year, there were 39. It’s not just Nintendo exclusives; the number of third-party games that hit this milestone dropped from 13 to 8, according to the report.
2023 doesn’t promise to be a significant year for Nintendo, either. The company is reportedly skipping E3 this year due to fewer game releases. Even if all the major releases this year hit over a million sales, there won’t be enough of them to reverse this downward trend.
The Nintendo Switch celebrates its 6th birthday this year, and many speculate that a new console isn’t far off. In an investor Q&A last year, Nintendo confirmed that transitioning to the next generation of hardware is a “major focus for us” (via VideoGamesChronicle). The slump in hit titles may hint at this shifting focus, but Switch owners shouldn’t worry. There are still plenty of fantastic Switch games planned for 2023.
