Animal Crossing is reportedly the biggest Switch launch ever in Japan
New Horizons said to have sold over 1.3 million copies
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is reportedly Nintendo Switch’s biggest launch to date in Japan.
According to Geo Corporation data (via 4Gamer), in its first three days New Horizons sold more than the 1.3 million units previous record holder Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield sold during the same time span.
Previously Super Smash Bros. Ultimate sold around 1.2 million during its launch week in Japan.
UPDATE: Animal Crossing: New Horizons has had a huge launch in Japan, selling 1.88m and propelling Switch hardware to its biggest ever week.
ORIGINAL STORY CONTINUES: Retail group Geo claims that Animal Crossing stock is virtually sold out in the region.
In the UK, Animal Crossing: New Horizons also achieved the biggest launch for a single Nintendo Switch game.
The Switch exclusive’s launch sales were 3.5 times bigger than the last game in the series, 2013’s Animal Crossing: New Leaf on Nintendo 3DS, according to VGC network partner GI.biz.
- Related: Animal Crossing guide – 21 tips for a happy island life
In fact, New Horizons sold more copies in its first on-sale week than the launch sales of all previous Animal Crossing games combined.
To date, 2013’s Animal Crossing: New Leaf is the best selling franchise entry, with more than 12 million units sold worldwide.
One independent game analyst has predicted New Horizons will beat that figure in its first few months.
“Whatever your optimistic sales expectations for Animal Crossing New Horizons launch sales were, I can already tell you it’s too low,” wrote analyst Benji Sales.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons reviews were published on Monday ahead of the game’s release.
VGC’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons review says the “comforting life sim is a tranquil haven at a time the world needs it most”.
It can be ordered from retailers including Best Buy, Amazon and Game.
