Splatoon 3 is on the way to succeeding Splatoon 2. According to Nintendo’s regular Consolidated Financial Highlights report released on February 7, 2023, the online shooter sequel sold just over 10 million units since its release in September 2022. As of December 31, 2022 Splatoon 3 sales marked 10.13 million units sold. By comparison, it took Splatoon 2 nine months to pass 6 million copies sold, from its release in July 2017 to the end of Nintendo’s financial year in March 2018.
The Nintendo report covers the nine-month period ending in December 31, 2022. That’s why the latest Splatoon 3 sales figure doesn’t include sales numbers from January 2023. The sales numbers, however, include all copies sold across physical and digital storefronts, as well as copies included as part of a bundle. In the April to December 2022 period, Splatoon 3 was the 2nd place sales leader of all Nintendo first-party games. The leaders were Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, which count as one entry. In 3rd place was Nintendo Switch Sports, which sold 7.9 million copies. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 placed 5th with 1.5 million copies sold, placing behind soccer title Mario Strikers Battle League. Upon its release, Splatoon 3 broke sales records as one of the fastest-selling Nintendo games ever, moving nearly 8 million copies in just 21 days from its release.
If things are looking rosy for the Splatoon franchise, things are looking a little more difficult for Nintendo as a whole. In the same report and a subsequent investor call, Nintendo cut its revenue outlook for the coming year. It said that it missed its hardware sales targets for the end of 2022, and reduced its sales forecast for the Switch in 2023 from 19 million consoles sold to about 18 million.
Splatoon 3 is available on the Nintendo Switch. The next scheduled Splatfest event will kick off on February 11, 2023, and focus on chocolate ahead of Valentine’s Day.
