Data for other devices, such as Sony's PlayStation 5 and Microsoft's Xbox Series, will soon be disclosed by the annual study of the Syndicate of Leisure Software Publishers.

Thanks to the 987,000 Switch sold last year, the Nintendo console brings its total to 7.1 million sales in France, surpassing the previous "record" held by the Nintendo Wii with 6.3 million units in total, explained to AFP Philippe Lavoué, general manager of Nintendo France.

Other data underlining the strong presence of the console with consumers: "10.5% of the 67 million French people are equipped with a Switch", according to the manager.

On the games side, Nintendo regained first place in the sales rankings for the year 2022 thanks to "Pokémon Arceus", dethroning the annual edition of the football simulation "Fifa" on PlayStation 4.

The Switch also placed nine titles in the Top 10, again thanks to the new Pokémon games released at the end of 2022 ("Pokémon Violet" and "Pokémon Scarlet" which together exceed 700,000 copies in total), but also to other more old ones like "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" or "Animal Crossing: New Horizons".

With three titles in the Top 10 of the market, Pokémon is achieving "a historic year", underlines Philippe Lavoué.

"It's unheard of for a franchise in France".

© 2023 AFP