Nintendo had a particularly amazing sales year in 2020, despite ongoing world circumstances. The long-time developer sold a large number of consoles and games not only in its homeland of Japan or in the United States, but around the world, especially when it comes to the blockbuster success ofAnimal Crossing: New Horizons.
Game is a German video game industry association likely best known in the English-speaking world for its Gamescom trade fair. AlthoughGamescom was unable to host an in-person event in 2020due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, that hasn’t stopped the company from announcing its December Game Sales Awards. Several Nintendo titles received awards for their impressive sales in the country in 2020.
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According to Game,Animal Crossing: New Horizonshas sold over a million copies in Germany as of December. Also receiving recognition areHyrule Warriors: Age of Calamityand Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics, each of which sold over 100,000 units in 2020. This news comes hot at the heals ofNintendo’s reveal that it sold five million Switches in Francein 2020, as well as making up 87 percent of Japan’s console sales for the year.
A few titles from other publishers won awards as well.Assassin’s Creed Valhalla,Cyberpunk 2077,andThe Last of Us 2have all sold over 500,000 copies in Germany.Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Moraleshas sold over 200,000 copies in Germany, andJust Dance 2021has made over 100,000 sales. This isn’t too surprising, asAnimal Crossing: New Horizons,Assassin’s Creed Valhalla,Cyberpunk 2077,andThe Last of Us 2were huge sellers in the UK as well.
With COVID-19 keeping many people locked inside, Nintendo was perfectly primed withAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsto help people who were struggling from the lack of social interaction. On top of selling an incredible number of consoles and games in Germany, France, and Japan, Nintendo even recently becameChina’s market leader in console sales. This is considered quite a feat, since consoles were banned in that country until as recently as 2014, so Nintendo can’t necessarily rely on nostalgia.
Of course, Nintendo still has a lot of work to do to maintain its momentum abroad and in Germany in particular. Germany is a lot more focused on esports titles than traditional console games, to the point thatthe country offers a dedicated esports visa. Nintendo will have to keep releasing unique games to people interested in the Switch and attract even more customers throughout 2021.
Animal Crossing: New Horizonsis currently available for the Nintendo Switch.
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