Sonic Superstars releasing around the same window as Super Mario Bros. Wonder had the fans looking forward to an ultimate 2D clash! As both the titles have now concluded with their initial week post-launch, it’s time for a ‘moment of truth’. What was tipped to be a big neck-to-neck encounter has turned out to be a one-sided affair.

Sega’s Sonic Superstars had made some strong buzz, but the competition with its 2D rival Super Mario Bros. Wonder fascinated the fans more. A lot of analytics predicted Sonic Superstars’ launch aligning with the release window of the highly anticipated Super Mario Bros. Wonder might end up costly for Sega. Now, the numbers of Nintendo Switch physical sales in Japan second all the projections that predicted the fall. Here are the surprising numbers revealed for the first phase of sales in Japan. 

Super Mario Bros. Wonder dominates the sales trends in Japan overshadowing Sonic Superstars

According to the latest reports, Sonic Superstars has only been able to record around four thousand physical sales for Switch in Japan. On the contrary, Nintendo’s 2D latest Mario title has already recorded a breathtaking figure of six hundred thirty-eight thousand physical sales for Switch. The massive difference between the figures has only fueled the projections that suggested releasing Sonic Superstars around Super Mario Bros. Wonder wasn’t a great idea for the franchise. 

Earlier in an interview before the launch of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Producer Takashi Tezuka was asked about the clash. He emphasized how the clash was a “coincidence” and a great opportunity for all the 2D gaming fans. “I think it’s an interesting coincidence. We’ve been creating 2D action games for a long time and we, of course, want as many players as possible to enjoy those games. We’re looking forward to as many people as possible having the opportunity to play these 2D side-scrolling action games, Mario and otherwise,”  he had stated. 

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A lot of fans are also attributing the poor numbers to the allegedly declining popularity of the blue hedgehog in Japan. But even compared to the numbers of Sonic Frontiers, this year’s sales in Japan are turning out to be a nightmare for the developers. 

Looking back at the performance of the Sonic franchise in Japan 

Sega’s 2D advent has not been that popular in Japan for a while in terms of sales. However, last year’s sales numbers were quite inspiring for Sonic. Sonic Frontiers did better with 46k physical units at launch on PS4/5 & Switch. It’s the best launch for a Sonic game in Japan in the last 19 years! “Biggest debut for the series since 2003’s Sonic Heroes Should be at least the series’ 3rd biggest launch with digital,” a tweet reads from November 2022. 

Now, comparing the reception of Sonic Superstars to its predecessor, the title couldn’t even chart in the top 30 launches in Japan. Superstars would be no.15 (4-6k) if we add all PS4/5 & Switch together.

These are not good signs for the fans of the franchise in Japan. Now the question is, what can Sonic do to catch up?

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