Nintendo Switch Drives Dramatic Sales Growth for Metroid, Xenoblade Chronicles, Kirby, and Pikmin Franchises

Nintendo Switch Drives Dramatic Sales Growth for Metroid, Xenoblade Chronicles, Kirby, and Pikmin Franchises Nintendo, an industry leader with a vast portfolio of beloved gaming series, has long leaned on its flagship franchises like Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Pokémon to generate blockbuster sales numbers.

However, according to the company's latest financial briefing released on November 6, 2024, several of Nintendo’s more niche properties—specifically Metroid, Xenoblade Chronicles, Kirby, and Pikmin—have experienced "dramatic sales growth" during the current Nintendo Switch era. The financial report included comparative charts that showcased significant jumps in sales figures for these four franchises when contrasting the Wii U/3DS generation with the Nintendo Switch generation.

The Switch’s unprecedented market reach—nearing 150 million units sold—has been a key driver in amplifying the popularity and success of these IPs, further establishing them as vital components of Nintendo's increasingly diversified portfolio. One important caveat noted by Nintendo is that the provided sales figures do not account for download-only titles.

This means games such as "Metroid Prime Trilogy" on the Wii U and "Kirby’s Dream Buffet" on the Nintendo Switch are absent from the data.

While their inclusion is unlikely to make a significant impact on overall results, it’s an important detail for those analyzing the full picture of franchise performance on Nintendo hardware. For a more concrete example, consider the Xenoblade Chronicles franchise.

During the Wii U and 3DS era, major entries like "Xenoblade Chronicles 3D" were released exclusively for the New Nintendo 3DS (a comparatively niche platform), and "Xenoblade Chronicles X" launched on the Wii U, which reached a lifetime hardware install base of just over 13.5 million units.

In contrast, the Nintendo Switch boasts multiple mainline releases including "Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition," "Xenoblade Chronicles 2," and "Xenoblade Chronicles 3"—all supported by a massive global audience. A parallel can be drawn with the Metroid series.

Previous releases such as "Metroid Prime: Federation Force" and "Metroid: Samus Returns" were limited to the 3DS, while the Wii U era saw no mainline retail Metroid entries.

On the Nintendo Switch, however, both "Metroid Dread"—a title heralded as a major return after years of anticipation—and "Metroid Prime Remastered" have made strong contributions to the series’ revitalization, helping Metroid achieve a renewed commercial prominence. The steady rise in sales for Kirby and Pikmin further underlines the point: Nintendo Switch’s widespread appeal and expanded user base have given longstanding franchises a new lease on life, transforming them into commercial success stories.

This growth not only highlights Nintendo’s ability to nurture a broad range of intellectual properties, but also demonstrates the strategic impact of robust platform support and targeted release schedules. As the Nintendo Switch continues to break sales records and Nintendo hints at future hardware evolutions, these results set an encouraging precedent.

Sustained growth for Metroid, Xenoblade Chronicles, Kirby, and Pikmin bodes well not only for dedicated fans, but also for Nintendo’s long-term strategy of diversifying its core offering beyond its most recognizable titles.

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