Pikmin 4 Becomes Top-Grossing Game on Switch in July

Key insights

7 takeaways

01
Pikmin 4 became the highest-grossing game on the Nintendo Switch in the US and UK for July 2023, despite launching late in the month.
02
Nintendo’s first-party software dominates revenue, accounting for eight of the top ten highest-grossing titles on the platform.
03
Fortnite and Minecraft were the only third-party titles to break into the top ten revenue list for July.
04
Fortnite led the platform in monthly active users (MAU), followed by The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Mario Kart 8.
05
Third-party engagement on Switch is driven primarily by live-service and free-to-play titles, including Fall Guys, Rocket League, and FIFA 23.
06
Mario Kart 8 remains a top performer in the racing genre, generating over 2.24 million hours of viewership on Twitch.
07
Only half of the top ten most-played games on the Switch saw positive MAU growth during July, indicating a highly competitive landscape for player attention.

Summary

Newzoo’s market analysis for July 2023 highlights the performance of top-tier titles on the Nintendo Switch platform, specifically focusing on revenue generation and player engagement. The data, which covers the United States and United Kingdom markets, underscores the continued dominance of Nintendo’s first-party software ecosystem.

Pikmin 4 emerged as the highest-grossing game on the platform for the month, despite its late-July release, surpassing established titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Mario Kart 8. The revenue rankings demonstrate a strong reliance on internal products, with eight of the top ten highest-grossing titles being first-party releases. Fortnite and Minecraft were the only third-party entries to secure spots in the top ten revenue list.

In terms of monthly active users (MAU), engagement patterns differed from revenue trends. Fortnite led the platform in total players, followed by The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Mario Kart 8. While first-party titles remain central to the platform, the top-performing third-party games by engagement are primarily live-service or free-to-play titles, including Fall Guys, Rocket League, and FIFA 23. Mario Kart 8 maintained significant longevity, ranking first in the racing genre by MAU and generating over 2.24 million hours of viewership on Twitch. Overall, only half of the top ten most-played games experienced positive MAU growth during the period, reflecting a competitive landscape where established live-service titles continue to command significant player attention.