The launch of Nintendo’s new MotionPlus-enabled sports compilation has given Wii peripheral sales a much-needed shot in the arm.

The new game, which offers improved motion-tracking fidelity across games like archery and fencing, was released in Japan last week on June 25. Since launching there, almost 85% of units shipped to stores were picked up by Japanese customers. The popularity of the game also meant that Wii-owners picked up a heap of separate MotionPlus attachments, with 296,00 extra units of the new peripheral being sold in addition to those packed-in with the game. The high attachment rate of MotionPlus was coupled by a boost in Wii remote and Nunchuk sales compared to last week- Wii remotes jumped from 13k to 30k, whereas Nuchucks went from 8k to 27k units sold.

The impact of sales of the new peripheral on Wii hardware sales will not be clear until monthly sales figures are released, but these early numbers are an indication, then it looks like the release of MotionPlus has come at just the right time for flagging Wii console sales in the land of Sushi and Sumos.

Source: GoNintendo