Sega and Atlus announced Shin Megami Tensei V has sold over 1 million copies worldwide on Nintendo Switch alone, confirming the flagship JRPG series of Atlus managed to enter the mainstream like its little sister Persona.

SMTV Sales Top 1 Million Copies Sold Worldwide, Deservedly So

The official Twitter accounts for Atlus and the Shin Megami Tensei series announced on April 18 that SMTV has sold over one million copies on Nintendo Switch. This includes both physical and digital sales, an impressive feat for a series reputed for its high difficulty and niche elements, especially when compared to bigger JRPG series like Final Fantasy.

Shin Megami Tensei V was first released worldwide on November 11, 2021. Th game still has a heavy focus on gameplay and turn-based battles over story elements, and you can easily spend a dozen hours exploring before seeing an important story cutscene. And yet, the game is a departure from past episodes in the series.

How Shin Megami Tensei V Turned the Series Around

Shin Megami Tensei V turned the labyrinthic, closed-off dungeon exploration of the past games into gigantic open world-like areas that are incredibly exhilarating to run through and explore. SMTV even introduces some platforming elements with a jump button for a complete change of pace. Lastly, SMTV still keeps several traditions of the series, including its iconic demons and apocalyptic, grimy developments. The sound design is also on point and is inspired by the beginnings of the series. The way the battle BGM only starts once the first attack is launched was an idea already present on the first Shin Megami Tensei on the Super Famicom in 1992.

If you told any SMT fan over ten years ago that one of the entries in the series would sell over one million copies worldwide, after a simultaneous worldwide release, they would have Smirked at your face and called you an idiot. I would've done the same. And yet here we are.

New Illustration by SMTV Character Designer Masayuki Doi

A new illustration of the Nahobino, the male protagonist of Shin Megami Tensei V, has been shared by Masayuki Doi. Check out the full-sized version below.

Digital Sale in Japan

The Japanese Twitter account also announced Shin Megami Tensei V digital version will be on sale on the Nintendo Switch eShop from April 25 to May 11, 2022.

SMTV Sales Could Reach New Heights With a PC Release

Shin Megami Tensei V could sell even more if the GeForce leak turns out correct once again. Shin Megami Tensei V was among the many games listed for a PC release on that infamous leak, which has barely ever been wrong so far.

The SMT series is doubling down with a comeback of Soul Hackers this year, with Soul Hackers 2 releasing on August 25, 2022, on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. What are your thoughts on SMTV sales reaching past the one million mark? Let me know in the comments ad on Twitter @A_iyane07!