Pokopia really is the system seller they needed in H1 2026. I'm sure they will have heavy hitters for the rest of the year, but this just secured a very good year for the console and kinda helps the 2027 gen 10 pill go down smoothly.

I wonder if the Galaxy movie will help push the Switch 2 and Switch a little too.

Pokemon Spinoff FW Comparison:

• Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness (DS) - 583,713
• Pokemon Pokopia (NS2) - 541,371 
• Pokemon Pinball (GBC) - 247,498
• Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia (DS) - 243,271
• Pokemon Stadium 2 (N64) - 226,185
• New Pokemon Snap (NS) - 147,742
• Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX (NS) - 138,548
• Pokken Tournament (Wii U) - 72,502

I included some older games to highlight the fact that yes, this is the second best FW for a Pokemon game ever in Japan, and is certainly #1 by far including digital sales. In fact, I need to make another comparison.

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Similar-to-Pokopia FW Comparison:

• Animal Crossing: New Horizons (NS) - 1,880,626
• Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS) - 721,786
• Pokemon Pokopia (NS2) - 541,371 
• Dragon Quest Builders (PS3+PSV+PS4) 369,828
• Dragon Quest Builders 2 (NS+PS4) - 258,918
• Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town (NS) - 202,396
• Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns (3DS) - 110,597

I had to bring in the best-selling full price game in Japan's history to find a game that clearly outmatched Pokopia.

Don't forget, the digital-only Pokemon Fire Red and Leaf Green were released and top digital sellers everywhere. This was a one two punch for Nintendo.

Nearly 50% increase WoW for Switch 2 thanks to Pokopia.
And Switch 1 continues to maintain a baseline just over 20k.

Very impressive.
Based on the fact that Pokopia is supply constrained, I’d expected it to have some solid legs - More than what you usually get from a Pokemon game - Spinoff or otherwise.
And that should have a carry over effect on Switch 2’s hardware as well.

I don't think so. Some Nintendo games in Japan had a 50/50 split on the Switch. Even if Pokopia released on a regular card the split would remain the same. The casual market doesn't care about that stuff.

While Switch 2's boost is obvious the big story, it's nice to see both Switch 1 and PS5 both up week over week too.

Seems like Requiem's still facing supply issues, another case like Pokopia where physical demand was underestimated.

If people doubt certain games could get 50% digital ratio or better, this is the perfect example of digital taking over Japan. Pokopia is a more casual/pokemon game, and casual/pokemon games have proven to have weaker digital ratios. Despite that it hit at least 46% ratio. I could see more popular digital games hitting 66% or better. The supply constrain issues brought up by everyone will only continue to happen to pretty much all games in Japan, unless it is a bomba.

100% of Pokiopia sales are digital. Some just come with some plastic. This is not a good example at all. Wait until Pokemon Wind/Waves. If that is fully on cart and 50% are still digital, then we can talk about the rise of digital.

More case studies are important I agree... but I think people also need to get realistic with the gamecard key thing. Most don't care. If they did, would the game have sold out of physical copies  (500k) and nearly matched ZA which came on a proper catridge? I doubt it. It seems more likely that people are very fickle and even with physical preference, they are happy to buy digital when its more convenient then waiting a few days for restock at their local store.

I think more important than the cartridge situation is just having a game well stocked and seeing how digital fairs there. None the less we gotta ask the question, when was the last time we got meaningful data about a popular games physical to digital ratio in Japan? It feels like we've been going off of 5 year old references for a while and that probably ought to be updated.