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Super Smash Bros Ultimate took the top spot in the charts this week, incidentally becoming the biggest launch ever for a Switch title. Nintendo’s new entry in the beloved franchise sold ten per cent more at launch than Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee combined a few weeks ago.
Looking at the previous instalment in the Smash series, Ultimate sold 82 per cent more than combined launch sales for Wii U and 3DS title Super Smash Bros, which released respectively in October and November 2014. It also sold 62 per cent more than Wii’s Super Smash Bros Brawl did at launch.
So needless to say that it’s a big success at retail for Nintendo and we can safely assume that digital sales are also breaking records.
Comparing it to Nintendo’s other iconic franchises, Ultimate sold 3.7 per cent more than combined launch sales for 2013’s Pokémon X and Y. It doesn’t reach the heights of the Pokémon Sun and Moon launch though. Ultimate sold 155 per cent more than 3DS’ Mario Kart 7 and 122 per cent more than Wii U’s Mario Kart 8 at launch. But it doesn’t quite reach launch sales for 2008’s Mario Kart Wii.
Switch bundles released with Ultimate also boosted Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, with gained four spots to No.5 with a 45 per cent rise in sales.
Moving on to the rest of the charts, Red Dead Redemption 2 managed to keep its place at No.2, with sales only decreasing ten per cent week-on-week. FIFA 19 fell to No.3 and Battlefield V was immovable from No.4, where it’s been since launch. Sales for EA’s title were down 25 per cent week-on-week.
Meanwhile, Just Cause 4 debuted at No.6 to lukewarm sales, down 61 per cent compared to launch sales for 2015’s Just Cause 3. It’s likely digital sales were on the rise though.
Having launched on PS4 last week, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds re-entered the charts directly at No.22, while Sega Mega Drive Classics launched on Switch last week, re-entering the listings at No.33.
Here’s the Top Ten for the week ending December 8th (data courtesy of GfK/Ukie):
