Nintendo has changed its ranking system for the best-selling games on the eShop
, by Thibaut
We might not have known it when it came out this week, but patch 20.0.0 for the Switch has mixed things in a big way. This update has also applied changes to Nintendo's eShop.
For example, the ranking that lists the best-selling games on the eShop has been overhauled. Previously, titles were ranked according to their total number of downloads over the last 14 days. From now on, this same ranking will take into account the total sales generated by a game over the last three days.
This practice is designed to eliminate shovelware, i.e. titles that imitate or plagiarize popular games. Last year, for example, Black Myth: Wukong and Unpacking got cheap imitations that could mislead consumers.
Unfortunately, this new ranking also risks making indie games that are not sold at full price even more invisible. AAA games sold at full price will undoubtedly fill the top spots. Nintendo exclusives will also be at an advantage, as their prices generally fall very little.