Nintendo Switch’s 10 million units in 3 days

The latest blockbuster release for the Switch console from Bloomberg is the company's biggest debut on any platform, scoring 10 million sales worldwide in its first three days.

Pok mon Scarlet and Violet was released simultaneously on November 18 and sold over 4 million units at home in Japan, setting a new domestic record. The games are the same except for the line-up of characters and collectibles in each version. Nintendo had just reached its last domestic sales high with the well-received Splatoon 3 in September, which was the beginning of a successful holiday season for the games and console maker.

Nintendo shares went up as much as 1.9% in Tokyo on Thursday morning.

The sales record isn't really a surprise, as the Pok mon brand seems invincible, according to Tokyo-based industry analyst Serkan Toto. This particular game is plagued by bugs and glaring performance problems that expose the age of the Switch hardware. Hardcore fans don't care. The Nintendo Switch console is five years old and relies on big game launches to maintain momentum for its software and hardware sales. Animal Crossing: New Horizons was a huge hit during the epidemic, when demand for home entertainment and gaming surged, but the latest Splatoon and Pok mon franchise entries opened to even bigger sales. Sony Group Corp., which sold 5.1 million units for its first week, recorded its best first-party game launch this month with God of War Ragnar k.

Both Japanese entertainment giants offered cautious forecasts for the year ahead, as demand waned over the course of the year. Nintendo sliced 10% off its fiscal-year Switch console sales forecast this month, citing shortages in chip supply as part of the cause. Despite its age, company executives say they remain confident in the appeal of the Switch.

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