Despite chatter of software shortages and massively inflated online pricing, Japanese gaming giant Nintendo is likely thrilled that consumer expectation for Super Smash Bros. Brawl has translated into superb opening sales.
500,000 units in its opening weekend sees Super Smash Bros Brawl ruling the roost in Japan. Credit: Nintendo
Specifically, gaming site Ripten reports that the Wii-exclusive action scrapper - which offers up a character selection list that reads like a ‘who’s who’ of Nintendo gaming history - has thus far racked up sales of approximately 500,000 units since the game launched in Japan late last week.
By way of direct comparison, Capcom is picking up the opening-day dregs for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 hack-and-slash spectacular Devil May Cry 4 , which has sold around 170,000 units.
Separating that overall figure into format-specific performance, the PlayStation 3’s popularity in Japan sees it emerge with the largest slice of DMC4’s current software sales, taking 140,000 units to the Xbox 360’s paltry 30,000 units.
However, although the PS3 release has shot out to a solid retail lead, Capcom will be looking for the Xbox 360 version to still shift stock across the region thanks to it being around $10 cheaper on Microsoft’s platform.
Devil May Cry 4 goes on sale in North America and Europe on February 05 and February 08 respectively - at which point the Xbox 360 edition of the game should push forward considerably.
Similarly, Nintendo will likely be looking for Super Smash Bros. Brawl to experience another significant swell once it slams onto North American retail shelves on March 09.
A release date for Europe has yet to be confirmed.
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