Splatoon 3 has smashed Nintendo Switch software launch records in Japan, the company has announced.
And according to theGame Data Library, a site that collates Japanese sales data,Splatoon 3could be the biggest Japanese game launch ever, on any platform.
According toNintendo’s data, theSwitchsequel is now comfortably Japan’s biggest ever game launch on the platform, in terms of both physical and digital copies, with some 3.45 million copies sold during its first three days on sale.
That’s nearly 600,000 units more than Switch’s previous biggest Japan launch,Animal Crossing: New Horizons, managed in its first week on sale.
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Pokémon Legends: Arceusachieved second place earlier this year when it sold 1.425m units in Japan during its launch week. Last year’sPokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearlsold 1.396m at launch in Japan.
The Splatoon series has enjoyed continued popularity in Japan. According toFamitsu,Splatoon 2was the fifth best selling Switch game overall in the country, as of March 2022.
However, with 4.03m copies sold as of that month, it’s likely the latest entry will overtake its predecessor in just a few weeks.
Further reading
In VGC’sSplatoon 3 review, critic Matthew Castle called the game “Nintendo’s safest sequel”.
“Its back-of-the-box features read more like (generous) patch notes than a bold invitation to a world of ink-flinging revolution. But if it provides solid fun within those baby steps, does it truly matter? In a game where point one of a percent can result in its biggest thrills, a major splash of paint isn’t always required.”
