Kicking things off for the new week (and month) is a lot of Nintendo news — including new sales figures for Nintendo Switch, as well as software sales data for its hottest games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Along with that, we’ll likely get an update on the Nintendo Switch version of Apex Legends tomorrow, we got an update on Gran Turismo 7, and more. Here’s the video game news you might’ve missed on Feb. 2, 2021.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Sold 31 Million Copies in Less Than a Year
As part of Nintendo’s recent financial results, the company announced new hardware and software sales stats (the former of which we’ll cover below) for its latest system. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is an absolute beast of a game, reaching 31.18 million units sold as of Dec. 31, 2020, trailing only Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for total sales, which leads the charge at 33.41 million units sold. (Mario Kart 8 in total has surpassed Mario Kart Wii as the top-selling entry in the franchise.) The company maintains an ongoing list of its top sellers, which can be seen on its corporate website.
https://twitter.com/MatPiscatella/status/1356288101803454464
Gran Turismo 7 Will Play More Traditionally Like Older Entries
In speaking with Japanese publication Octane (and relayed by VGC), Polyphony studio head Kazunori Yamauchi said that Gran Turismo 7 will be a return to the series’s roots. Specifically, Yamauchi said, “In Gran Turismo 7, while inheriting elements such as the [FIA] championships that were realized in Sport, we are going to go back to the full-volume of Gran Turismo 1 and 4, and providing the best Gran Turismo experience today. So for those who know the old Gran Turismo, I think it will feel a bit nostalgic.” Gran Turismo 7 is expected to launch sometime this year.
Read More: Gran Turismo 7 boss says PS5 game will be ‘a full experience’ like early GTs
Respawn Says We’ll Get More Info About Apex Legends’ Nintendo Switch Release Tomorrow
Tomorrow marks the start of Apex Legends Season 8, and while we mostly know about its contents, Respawn and EA have remained relatively tight-lipped about the forthcoming Nintendo Switch release. Although, according to Respawn Game Director Chad Grenier, we’ll get some sort of update about it tomorrow. This could mean a simultaneous Switch release alongside Season 8, which would agree with Respawn’s own (retracted) statements, or possibly the reveal of its release date for some time in the future. Either way, keep your eyes peeled tomorrow.
Yes
— Chad Grenier (@ChadGrenier) February 1, 2021
Stunning JRPG Cris Tales Gets July Release Window
Following its recent delay, fans were eagerly awaiting a new release date for JRPG Cris Tales. A new Overview Trailer from publisher Modus Games has revealed that Cris Tales will launch sometime in July 2021. It didn’t specify its exact release date, but at least we know it’s coming this year. Cris Tales will come to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X | S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Nintendo Switch Nears 80 Million Units Sold, Outselling the 3DS
As another part of Nintendo’s recent financial results, it revealed that Nintendo Switch has reached 79.87 million units sold, outselling the 3DS family of systems. In total, this includes 66.34 million Switch systems and 13.53 Switch Lite systems (which is on track to outsell the Wii U by itself). Impressively, Nintendo has managed to reach this milestone in under four years, making it one of the fastest-selling consoles in the history of the company.
The Nintendo Switch has now sold in 79.87 million units of hardware as of December 31, 2020
This includes 66.34 million Switch units and 13.53 million Switch Lite units
The Nintendo Switch has surpassed the Nintendo 3DS in lifetime sales, the latter sold 75.94 million to date pic.twitter.com/CZ2gvv8263
— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) February 1, 2021
