Update: Data from Japanese magazine Famitsu has revealed that Animal Crossing: New Horizons has sold over 1.88 million copies in Japan in its first three days of release.
This figure includes any physical copies, including download cards, but not digital sales on the eShop. Nintendo has yet to reveal any official figures which would include digital sales.
As GamesIndustry.biz points out, New Horizon's three-day figure has beaten even combined sales of Pokemon Sword & Shield, which managed 1.36 million sales in Japan in its first three days.
Original Story: Nintendo's new title Animal Crossing: New Horizons has become the fastest-selling game on the Switch in the UK.
As reported by GamesIndustry.biz, the amount of copies sold for New Horizons is more than the total number of copies for the rest of the franchise combined. Furthermore, as a single title, it is the fastest-selling on Nintendo's console.
On top of this, it is only physical copies that have been counted. However, Pokemon Sword and Shield combined did shift more units in its first week.
"An escape"
Speaking to The Verge, New Horizons producer Hisashi Nogami expressed sorrow for the events happening right now – the coronavirus outbreak – but hopes the game will be used as an "escape."
"We've been planning this release for quite some time, so it's unfortunate that this timing overlapped with what's currently happening in the world," said Nogami.
"I am very disheartened and saddened by the events happening across the world. Considering the timing, we hope that a lot of the Animal Crossing fans will use this as an escape, so they can enjoy themselves during this difficult time."
Last month, during Animal Crossing: New Horizons Direct, details were given on a crossover between the new switch game and the mobile title, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. The mobile game is Nintendo's second-highest-grossing title on the platform.
PG Connects Digital #1 is the best of our Pocket Gamer Connects conference in an online form, with an entire week of talks, meetings, and pitch events taking place from April 6th to the 10th. You can register for the online event here.
