LEGO Worlds debuts in Japan during dismal sales week

Lukewarm Legos

Overall video games sales in Japan took a dip this week, and the only significant new release had poor performance. Despite opening in the top 5, LEGO Worlds failed to eclipse even 12,000 sales. The only other new title to rank is a pet game, who just sneaks into the top 20 with 3,631 units.

A possible cause for lower sales and lack of major titles releasing this past week could be due to the new season. Cherry blossom trees began their week-or-so-long bloom around the country last week, which coincides with the new school/working year in Japan. That is no accident, as the blooming cherry blossoms (sakura) signify new beginnings, and thus is when school years begin, people enter new jobs, and as a result many move. I figure it must play a factor.

Media Create Sales 4/03/17-4/09/17 [4gamer]

Top game sales. Lifetime sales in parentheses.

1. [3DS] Monster Hunter XX  – 65,672 (1,322,152)
2. [NSW] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – 23,016 (354,404)
3. [3DS] Mario Sports Superstars – 18,765 (51,181)
4. [NSW] 1-2-Switch – 12,418 (166,319)
5. [PS4] LEGO Worlds – 11,578 (New)
6. [PS4] Warriors All-Stars – 8,577 (48,946)
7. [PS4] Ghost Recon: Wildlands – 7,907 (153,408)
8. [3DS] Pokémon Sun & Moon – 6,972 (3,236,826)
9. [PS4] NieR: Automata – 6,593 (294,694)
10. [WIU] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – 6,487 (95,806)
11. [PS4] Blue Reflection: Sword of the Girl Who Dances in Illusions – 6,100 (40,691)
12. [PS4] Horizon: Zero Dawn – 6,018 (196,661)
13. [3DS] Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS – 5,717 (1,015,110)
14. [PSV] Warriors All-Stars – 4,527 (22,393)
15. [NSW] Super Bomberman R  – 4,233 (66,617)
16. [PS4] Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix – 4,218 (98,725)
17. [PS4] Grand Theft Auto V (4990 yen version) – 4,094 (318,014)
18. [3DS] Animal Crossing: New Leaf Amiibo+ – 4,017 (159,150)
19. [Wii U] Minecraft: Wii U Edition  – 4,014 (313,703)
20. [3DS] Kawaii Pet to Kurasou! Wan-nyan & Mini Mini Animal – 3,631 (New)

Top console sales. Prior week’s sales in parentheses.

1. Switch – 41,193 (45,509)
2. New 3DS XL – 19,533 (25,719)
3. PlayStation 4 – 18,022 (25,006)
4. PlayStation 4 Pro – 6,490 (5,051)
5. PlayStation Vita – 5,987 (7,780)
6. 2DS – 4,629 (6,240)
7. New 3DS – 1,523 (1,995)
8. PlayStation 3 – 704 (1,724)
9. Wii U – 358 (449)
10. Xbox One – 132 (187)