Nintendo has experienced a landmark quarter, with its flagship game, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, selling an impressive 18.51 million units by the end of June.
The game’s popularity has surpassed that of its predecessor, Breath of the Wild, which stands at 30.65 million copies sold. The Quarter Results reveal that Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom accounted for approximately half of the first-party software sales during this fiscal year.
Interestingly, while existing players of The Legend of Zelda series, especially Breath of the Wild, drove initial sales, an increasing number of purchases came from consumers who had not yet experienced the previous title. This indicates that the game’s appeal is broadening to attract a new and expanding audience.
Nintendo Switch Continues to Thrive
Nintendo’s successful streak doesn’t stop with the game sales alone. During this quarter, the global sell-through of first-party software reached an all-time high for the first quarter since the Nintendo Switch’s launch in 2017.
The Switch family of systems witnessed a substantial 13.9 percent year-on-year increase in unit sales, totaling 3.91 million units. Software unit sales also experienced robust growth, rising by 26.1 percent year-on-year to reach 52.21 million units.
In addition to the success of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Nintendo credits the strong performance of games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to the global sensation of The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The movie, released on April 5, has garnered an impressive 168.10 million viewers worldwide, generating over $1.349 billion in global box-office revenue as of July 26.
Expanding Nintendo IP
The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s positive reception has allowed Nintendo to expand its intellectual property (IP) beyond video games.
This strategic move has proven successful in creating new opportunities for consumers to engage with Nintendo’s beloved IP, ultimately invigorating the overall business.
As a result, Nintendo is now actively exploring more visual content-related initiatives to sustain and extend the reach of its iconic characters.
Exciting Upcoming Releases
Looking ahead, Nintendo has a promising lineup of upcoming releases scheduled for this year. Detective Pikachu Returns, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, WarioWare: Move It!, and Super Mario RPG are among the highly anticipated titles that are expected to further drive Nintendo’s success and keep its fans eagerly engaged.
With the resounding success of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and the significant impact of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Nintendo continues to solidify its position as a leading force in the gaming and entertainment industry.
As the company explores new avenues for its intellectual property, fans can look forward to even more thrilling experiences in the future.
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