Nintendo had a particularly amazing sales year in 2020, despite ongoing world circumstances. The long-time developer sold a large number of consoles and games not only in its homeland of Japan or in the United States, but around the world, especially when it comes to the blockbuster success of Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Game is a German video game industry association likely best known in the English-speaking world for its Gamescom trade fair. Although Gamescom was unable to host an in-person event in 2020 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, that hasn't stopped the company from announcing its December Game Sales Awards. Several Nintendo titles received awards for their impressive sales in the country in 2020.
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According to Game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has sold over a million copies in Germany as of December. Also receiving recognition are Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity and Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics, each of which sold over 100,000 units in 2020. This news comes hot at the heals of Nintendo's reveal that it sold five million Switches in France in 2020, as well as making up 87 percent of Japan's console sales for the year.
A few titles from other publishers won awards as well. Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Cyberpunk 2077, and The Last of Us 2 have all sold over 500,000 copies in Germany. Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales has sold over 200,000 copies in Germany, and Just Dance 2021 has made over 100,000 sales. This isn't too surprising, as Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Cyberpunk 2077, and The Last of Us 2 were huge sellers in the UK as well.
With COVID-19 keeping many people locked inside, Nintendo was perfectly primed with Animal Crossing: New Horizons to help people who were struggling from the lack of social interaction. On top of selling an incredible number of consoles and games in Germany, France, and Japan, Nintendo even recently became China's market leader in console sales. This is considered quite a feat, since consoles were banned in that country until as recently as 2014, so Nintendo can't necessarily rely on nostalgia.
Of course, Nintendo still has a lot of work to do to maintain its momentum abroad and in Germany in particular. Germany is a lot more focused on esports titles than traditional console games, to the point that the country offers a dedicated esports visa. Nintendo will have to keep releasing unique games to people interested in the Switch and attract even more customers throughout 2021.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is currently available for the Nintendo Switch.
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Source: Game
