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.

Top 30: https://nintendoeverything.com/famitsu-software-sales-3-2-26-3-8-26-top-30/

1. [NS2] Pokemon Pokopia – 541,371 / NEW
2. [PS5] Resident Evil Requiem – 23,459 / 178,832
3. [NS2] Mario Kart World – 10,023 / 2,856,782
4. [NS2] Mario Tennis Fever – 9,626 / 75,831
5. [NS2] Resident Evil Requiem – 6,562 / 45,355
6. [NSW] Animal Crossing: New Horizons – 6,405 / 8,397,297
7. [NS2] Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined – 5,594 / 208,365
8. [NS2] Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition – 5,074 / 83,595
9. [NSW] Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined – 5,026 / 236,744
10. [NSW] Minecraft – 4,667 / 4,164,389
11. [NS2] Pokemon Legends: Z-A – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition – 4,024 / 1,099,027
12. [NSW] Pokemon Legends: Z-A – 3,833 / 1,623,420
13. [NS2] Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV – 3,513 / 175,053
14. [PS5] Tokyo Xtreme Racer – 3,318 / 20,987
15. [NS2] Kirby Air Riders – 3,196 / 510,013
16. [NSW] Super Mario Party Jamboree – 3,165 / 1,491,662
17. [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 3,004 / 6,553,524
18. [NS2] Momotaro Dentetsu 2 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition – 2,802 / 281,409
19. [PS5] Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined – 2,523 / 141,812
20. [NSW] Nintendo Switch Sports – 2,385 / 1,708,411
21. [NSW] Momotaro Dentetsu 2 – 2,368 / 329,391
22. [NSW] Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – 2,358 / 5,886,700
23. [NS2] Donkey Kong Bananza – 2,329 / 485,337
24. [PS5] Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties – 2,113 / 71,698
25. [NSW] Takes of Berseria Remastered – 2,100 / 11,898
26. [NSW] Splatoon 3 – 1,746 / 4,521,732
27. [PS5] Nioh 3 – 1,593 / 58,931
28. [NSW] Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics – 1,432 / 1,484,406
29. [NSW] Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 – 1,429 / 157,726
30. [NSW] Super Mario Odyssey – 1,379 / 2,611,364

NS1 - 14
NS2 - 11
PS5 - 5