One of the Switch's best, and arguably most underrated first party games, is ARMS. Created by Kouske Yabuki (of Mario Kart 8), this 3D Arena Fighter, launched a few months after the Switch itself as one of the very first games revealed for the system. It's a new character-driven, competitive multiplayer IP in the vein of Splatoon, meant to demonstrate the Joy-Con's improved motion controls for a more core-focused gameplay style. While it wasn't the breakout hit that Splatoon was, it still did very well, at 2.1 million copies worldwide.

But according to people on the internet, that's apparently not good enough. The thinking is that because this is a new character-driven multiplayer game like Splatoon, it needed to do as well as, if not better than Splatoon on the first try. Otherwise, it's a disappointment. I really don't get this logic. Nintendo never said or implied that they wanted this to be the next Splatoon. It's a fighting game on a new system, it's obviously not going to reach the heights of Splatoon in its first game. Nintendo rarely goes into new ideas like ARMS thinking they're going to be the next big phenomenon. They just focus on trying to make a game sell well, and if it happens to blow up past their expectations in the first game, then that's great. But ARMS is one of those games that while not a breakout hit, provides a good enough foundation to build on with future games.

Do you think Nintendo just sits there green-lighting games thinking they're going to be instant megahits? Of course not, because that's a terrible way to run a business. Nintendo simply just wants games that sell well, not games that are the next big phenomenon. ARMS sold well, so it's a success. Don't be surprised to see it again in the future.

Its not. Whoever told you that 2.1m "is not enough" is on crack and should share some. 2.1m is a lot for any new IP, specially one so unremarkable. Arms is nothing but successful. Expect an Arms 2 announcement in the near future.

No it is not. People say cause it was made by the Mario kart team, that it is a failure for not performing like Mario kart. That’s just a crazy way of thinking

No, it's not. And whoever says it is needs to seriously lower their standards on what to expect from a new IP.

Its not Overwatch or Splatoon in terms of success, but I think ARMS is not a failure. The comparisons should not take away from its success.

Over 2.1 million units (as of Sept. 2018) sold is nothing to sniff at, especially for a new IP. I know we expected a lot, considering its a new big IP for Nintendo and people were comparing it to Splatoon. However, as a fighting game with unique gameplay mechanics, its audience was not going to be as grand as some would have expected. Not to mention, it was eventually going to lose some of its momentum when Splatoon 2 released the month after ARMS.

Nevertheless, as I said before, over 2.1 million units is great, especially for a new fighting game. Let's not forget, Street Fighter V, with all its promotion and focus on the competitive scene, did not do well out the gate and it took Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition to help get the overall sales above 3.7 million units as of August 2019. Hell, Tekken 7, which has garnered praise, has sold about 4 million copies as of March 2019. These numbers do not really blow ARMS out of the water sales-wise.

I think ARMS will be remembered as a solid fighting game with unique mechanics and colorful characters. The Mario Kart team that developed the game (led by Kosuke Yabuki) are probably pleased with themselves for being able to develop something successful and unique beyond Mario Kart.

"People on the internet" are still discussing if ARMS was a success or a failure? Or is it just you?

Has anything changed since your last thread about it? http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread.php?id=238790&page=1

I'm sure ARMS was quite profitable for Nintendo, but why do you feel the urge to prove its success?

The only fighting games that have sold more than it this gen are Tekken and Smash Ultimate so it's far from a failure.

I do think Nintendo wanted a franchise they can invest long-term in, and in that sense, I don't believe ARMS is worth pursuing further.

Franchises take time to build. You can't be a big franchise on your first try.

You're trying to combine two separate arguments into one.

Is the ARMS software a success in terms of sales? Almost certainly.

Did ARMS perform well enough in the eyes of Nintendo for it to become a full-fledged franchise going forward? That remains to be seen.

Nintendo is obviously trying to diversify their lineup, especially with online multiplayer in mind. If ARMS gets another installment with full development and marketing support behind it, then that would most likely mean Nintendo is optimistic about its future. If it goes away quietly into the night ...