Shigeru Miyamoto Reveals the Untold Secrets behind Pikmin's Previous Sales Slump

In an interview leading up to the release of Pikmin 4 on July 21, series creator Shigeru Miyamoto has discussed why Pikmin has not achieved the same commercial success as other Nintendo franchises. Despite its vibrant characters and unique combination of real-time strategy and puzzle gameplay, the Pikmin series has gained a loyal fan base over the years without achieving significant sales figures.

The original Pikmin game was introduced on the Nintendo GameCube in 2001 and has since received widespread acclaim for its gameplay mechanics and distinctive visual style. By placing players in command of a small character in a spacesuit, who can direct groups of the iconic creatures known as Pikmin, the franchise offers a delightful twist on traditional strategy games. However, despite developing a dedicated following across its three console installments, the Pikmin series has not enjoyed the same level of commercial success as some of Nintendo's other well-known properties.

As reported by IGN, gaming industry icon Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Pikmin, has revealed the reason behind the series' lack of commercial success. Nintendo's Ask the Developer roundtable on Pikmin 4 featured Miyamoto and several members of the game's development team, where he discussed previous Pikmin games. Miyamoto expressed his confusion as to why these games, despite being extremely fun to play, have not achieved significant sales. He ultimately attributes this to the game's difficulty, suggesting that it may deter some players.

Expanding on that idea, Miyamoto recognizes the potential difficulty gamers may experience with death in the game. However, he believes that the franchise’s strength lies in its connection to mortality. He emphasizes that the challenge of preventing the Pikmin's deaths adds to the overall enjoyment of the franchise. Miyamoto identifies two key factors that contribute to the perceived difficulty of Pikmin: the controls and the depth of gameplay. The team spent a significant amount of time ensuring that these aspects were intriguing rather than overly challenging. Furthermore, Miyamoto explains that some of the new features in Pikmin 4 are specifically designed to assist players and overcome control-related challenges in the game.

Whether Pikmin 4 will surpass the commercial success of its predecessors remains uncertain. However, Miyamoto and the design team have put in their best efforts to guarantee its success. The franchise's dedicated fanbase, exemplified by the recent display of homemade Pikmin 4 ads in Times Square, also plays an integral role in its potential triumph.

Pikmin 4 launches exclusively for the Nintendo Switch on July 21, 2023.

Source: Nintendo (via IGN)