DidLink and Zelda really become "legends" in France in 2023? The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the latest opus in Nintendo's mythical franchise, reached the top of the sales charts in 2023, dethroning flagship titles such as EA Sports FC by Electronic Arts, among others. This performance is all the more remarkable given that the game reached the symbolic milestone of one million copies sold, making it the most popular game of the year in France.
This conquest is not an isolated fact for Nintendo, which has seen its Switch console dominate the ranking of video game sales in France in 2023. According to data from theGfK institute reported by Philippe Lavoué, General Manager of Nintendo France, more than half (55%) of games sold in physical versions in France last year were Switch games. This dominance is underlined by the presence of five Switch titles in the sales Top 10, including the hugely popular Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which came second with almost 750,000 copies sold.
Nintendo' s success is not limited to the virtual world. The film Super Mario Bros, released in French cinemas, was the biggest cinematic success of the year, attracting over seven million spectators. This synergy between cinema and video games has been cleverly exploited by Nintendo, as Philippe Lavoué explains. Building on this momentum, Nintendo even announced at the end of November that it was preparing a live-action film based on the Zelda universe, testifying to the growing popularity of its franchises.
In terms of figures, 2023 was a record year for the Switch in France, with over 850,000 units sold, bringing the total to almost eight million since its launch in March 2017. These impressive results, representing 11.7% of the French population equipped with a Switch, confirm Nintendo' s dominant position in the French market. With The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom leading the way, Nintendo continues to prove its ability to create experiences that captivate and delight gamers of all ages. If you haven't already, all you have to do is play!
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