Paint Party kicking in right now
Nintendo’s colorful arena shooter series made its grand return last month, with the arrival of madcap multiplayer releaseSplatoon 3— And,according to new figures in Famitsu, it appears to have had nothing less than the proverbial blockbuster launch, raking in physical and digital sales worldwide and taking the retail market by storm in Japan in particular.
In fact, for September 2021,Splatoon 3sold 2.7 million physical copies in the territory, which accounts for an incredible 69% of all of Japan’s gaming retail for the month in question. Previously, Nintendo had already celebratedSplatoon 3shifting 3.45 million copiesin a merethree days, making it Japan’s fastest-selling Nintendo Switch release ever.Splatoon 3has been the most dominant seller in series’ history, which is unfathomable when you consider hosts Pearl & Marina have taken time out for this entry.
On the hardware front, Japan also shifted a further 500,000 Nintendo Switch units in September, suggesting thatSplatoon 3has also been a major platform mover in the territory. And, while Nintendo is not particularly forward in the revelation of its games’ sales figures, we also know thatSplatoon 3has also been a success overseas, scoring the series itsfirst Number Onein the UK sales charts.
Splatoon, as a franchise, has gone from strength to strength with each consecutive release. The series’ success goes beyond the engaging gameplay and fun multiplayer action, withSplatoonsuccessfully building a true community of players, as happy to hang around Inkopolis and share emotes and sketches as they are to run around covering the floor and walls in Day-Glo colors.Splatoonmay have started out as a typical team shooter, built it has become something more, with fan art, live shows, a healthy competitive scene, and merchandising all helping to grow the franchise into something very special.
Splatoon 3 sold 2.7m boxed copies in three weeks[GamesIndustry.biz]
