The first half of 2023 is coming to an end, so there will be little sales data for that period. For example, Famitsu released some new sales figures. Data refers to sales of gaming hardware and software in Japan from December 26, 2022 to June 25, 2023.
According to Famitsu, the Nintendo Switch family of consoles sold 1,940,000 units in the first half of the year, making the Switch the best-selling console in Japan. 380,000 of those units were in June alone. The second-placed console is the PlayStation 5, which sold 1,400,000 copies in the same period. In the period from May 29 to June 25, Sony sold 215,000 PlayStation 5 consoles.
On the software front, it’s only good news for Nintendo. They had the highest software sales for boxed titles, generating ¥28 billion ($203,000,000) during the first six months of 2023, accounting for 44% of the physical game market in Japan. Square Enix followed in second place with ¥6.74 billion ($48,600,000) and 10.6% of the market, and The Pokemon Company in third with ¥4.68 billion ($34 million) and 7% of the market.
In June, Nintendo led the way in physical software sales with 422,000 copies sold. Square Enix was second with 364,000 copies, and Capcom was third with 83,000 copies. As for Square Enix, their physical sales were boosted by the release of Final Fantasy XVI, which was the best-selling physical game in June in Japan with 336,000 copies sold. The runner-up was The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Speaking of Nintendo’s latest Zelda game, it was the best-selling physical release of the game in the first half of 2023. The game is currently estimated to have sold 1,700,000 copies in Japan during that period. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is in second place with 719,000 copies. Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe was third with 451,000 boxed games sold. In fact, 8 of the 10 best-selling physical game releases in the first half of the year were Nintendo Switch games. You can see the charts for that in full below.
| Rank | Title | Platform | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Realm | Switch | Nintendo |
| 2 | Pokémon Scarlet/Violet | Switch | The Pokémon Company |
| 3 | Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe | Switch | Nintendo |
| 4 | Splatoon 3 | Switch | Nintendo |
| 5 | Final Fantasy 16 | PS5 | Square Enix |
| 6 | Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | Switch | Nintendo |
| 7 | Nintendo Switch Sports | Switch | Nintendo |
| 8 | Fire Emblem Engage | Switch | Nintendo |
| 9 | Minecraft: Switch Edition | Switch | Microsoft Japan |
| 10 | The legacy of Hogwarts | PS5 | Warner Bros. Games |
