Naruto Games' Worldwide Sales Reach 10 Million
That many people have played through the spunky ninja's stories? Believe it!
Published: January 13, 2012
We often joke with new employees that one's ability to continually tackle news here at TotalPlayStation is directly proportional to the number of stories one can write about Naruto games. Simply put, Namco Bandai Games and long-time development partner CyberConnect2 have been cranking out what seems like countless games starring the orange-clad ninja and pals for what seems like ages now. In truth, it hasn't even been a decade (though with the first game hitting in 2003, it's getting close), and the actual number of games released is a comparatively paltry 15. Still, at the rate of over one game per year on a multitude of platforms, the little dude gets around.
Apparently he's done so to the tune of over 10 million copies of those 15 different games sold, and what's truly amazing is that the lion's share of them were sold not in their native Japan, but in the West. North Americans gobbled up 4.3 million copies, Europeans bought 3.8 million and back home, Japanese gamers consumed 1.9 million. Needless to say, the guy's apparently still quite popular, and there's another game, the gasping-for-breath-lengthy [game=2913]Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations[/news] hitting in March that brings the 3D fighter's roster to over seventy playable characters. So no, there's no sign of Naruto tapering off any time soon.
"We’re very glad and proud to have achieved 10 million units worldwide for the NARUTO franchise, and we promise you that we will keep working very hard on this important series to carry on exciting all the fans around the world. Thanks again for all of your support, and I wish you all the best for 2012!" beamed Namco Bandai Games Producer Yusuke Sasaki.
To help celebrate the milestone, CyberConnect2 head Hiroshi Matsuyama is going to run the entire length of the Marathon de Paris dressed as Naruto. That's a staggering 26 miles and 385 yards from start to finish, though Matsuyama will be joined by other Namco Bandai producers along the way. We'd say that's the most insane way to celebrate selling that many copies of the game if it wasn't so, well, amazing. We wish Mr. Matsuyama the best of luck with both his training and the marathon itself. Paris won't know what hit 'em!
Apparently he's done so to the tune of over 10 million copies of those 15 different games sold, and what's truly amazing is that the lion's share of them were sold not in their native Japan, but in the West. North Americans gobbled up 4.3 million copies, Europeans bought 3.8 million and back home, Japanese gamers consumed 1.9 million. Needless to say, the guy's apparently still quite popular, and there's another game, the gasping-for-breath-lengthy [game=2913]Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations[/news] hitting in March that brings the 3D fighter's roster to over seventy playable characters. So no, there's no sign of Naruto tapering off any time soon.
"We’re very glad and proud to have achieved 10 million units worldwide for the NARUTO franchise, and we promise you that we will keep working very hard on this important series to carry on exciting all the fans around the world. Thanks again for all of your support, and I wish you all the best for 2012!" beamed Namco Bandai Games Producer Yusuke Sasaki.
To help celebrate the milestone, CyberConnect2 head Hiroshi Matsuyama is going to run the entire length of the Marathon de Paris dressed as Naruto. That's a staggering 26 miles and 385 yards from start to finish, though Matsuyama will be joined by other Namco Bandai producers along the way. We'd say that's the most insane way to celebrate selling that many copies of the game if it wasn't so, well, amazing. We wish Mr. Matsuyama the best of luck with both his training and the marathon itself. Paris won't know what hit 'em!
