We store cookies, you can get more info from our privacy policy.
3DSWiiU

Nintendo Sales Panic: April 2016 US NPD Group Results

by Donald Theriault - May 13, 2016, 7:20 am EDT
Total comments: 8 Source: NPD Group

Will there be a second Bravely appearance, or did everything (Nova) Bomb?

In a good month to be an exclusive, Nintendo software performed to expectations according to April's NPD report.

The big mover for the month was Star Fox Zero/Guard, with the dual pack finishing 10th in the combined system NPD chart and 5th on a single-system basis, though with only a bit over 100,000 copies in its nine days of sale. Star Fox Zero marks the first Platinum game to rank in the top 10 since 2013's Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.

Bravely Second, the other debutant for Nintendo in April, sold through just under 100,000 copies and finished 9th overall in the single-system ranking, roughly half of the original Bravely Default's sales. Just behind it was March's Pokkén Tournament, which is close to 350,000 physical copies sold in the United States to date.

Talkback

Ian SaneMay 13, 2016

So is that Bravely Second figure bad?  Is it selling half of the pace that the first game did or is more of a "hey, it already has sold half of the first games total figures"?

I'm interested in Bravely Second but haven't bought it simply because I have not beat the first game yet and haven't done so because I hear that there is a big bunch of padding coming up that's a chore to play through.  I could see others being in the same boat.  If an element of an otherwise great game leaves a sour taste in people's mouths then it could affect the sales of the sequel.

EnnerMay 13, 2016

Considering critical receptions (SF0) and previous games (Bravely Second), this seems the best first month these games can hope for.

SorenMay 13, 2016

Pokken Tournament has sold more than Street Fighter V at retail....

OedoMay 13, 2016

Quote from: Ian

If an element of an otherwise great game leaves a sour taste in people's mouths then it could affect the sales of the sequel.

That's almost certainly the reason. It's a shame because, after having played through all of Bravely Second now, it's clear that they did take a lot of the feedback to heart and made worthwhile improvements beyond just the removal of that one bad element from the first game. I had some smaller issues that came up in Bravely Second, but on the whole it's a really good follow-up that probably will never get the love it deserves because one terrible decision in the first game turned so many people off of it (and I can't really blame them).

Quote from: Soren

Pokken Tournament has sold more than Street Fighter V at retail....

I was super shocked to hear this. Pretty amazing news. I wonder if this could possibly lead to some DLC to bolster the roster. I know I'd throw down for that.

PhilPhillip Stortzum, May 14, 2016

Quote from: Ian

So is that Bravely Second figure bad?  Is it selling half of the pace that the first game did or is more of a "hey, it already has sold half of the first games total figures"?

I'm interested in Bravely Second but haven't bought it simply because I have not beat the first game yet and haven't done so because I hear that there is a big bunch of padding coming up that's a chore to play through.  I could see others being in the same boat.  If an element of an otherwise great game leaves a sour taste in people's mouths then it could affect the sales of the sequel.

Yeah, I still haven't even played Default despite owning it, so that's the same reason for me not getting the sequel. I just hope it doesn't go up in price for used copies like Default has!

Mop it upMay 16, 2016

That sounds like a decent enough number for Star Fox all things considered. I also wasn't expecting that much from Pokken either.

Quote from: Ian

If an element of an otherwise great game leaves a sour taste in people's mouths then it could affect the sales of the sequel.

Yeah, that's why I haven't bought it. From what I've read, it has the same problems as the first game.

CaterkillerMatthew Osborne, Contributing WriterMay 16, 2016

Quote from: Soren

Pokken Tournament has sold more than Street Fighter V at retail....

Wow that is impressive.

I had a feeling it would do well simply because it was Pokemon with solid gameplay but I hope developers look at it's simpler mechanics as something to think about for the future.

The last traditional fighting game that I got deep into was Soul Caliber 2. I would practice at home on the gamecube and then play in arcades with the skills I trained in private. I tried so hard to be good at Tekken Tag 2 but even with people helping me it was just way too complex. Pokken is no Smash Bros in terms of its ease of play but the fact that its really straight forward makes it so much easier to learn.

Got a news tip? Send it in!
Advertisement
Advertisement