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| A screengrab of Nioh 3's 1 Million Copies sold announcement by Team Ninja |
Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo have done it again. The highly anticipated release of Nioh 3 has not only met expectations but shattered them, becoming the fastest-selling entry in the franchise’s storied history. Just two weeks after its global launch, the latest souls-like hack-and-slash epic has sold over 1 million copies, signaling a massive win for the Japanese developers.
In an official announcement that sent ripples through the action-RPG community, Koei Tecmo confirmed that Nioh 3 has propelled the entire franchise past a staggering 10 million units sold lifetime across all platforms. This milestone solidifies Team Ninja’s reputation as masters of the challenging "Masocore" genre, blending punishing difficulty with deep, rewarding mechanics.
A Two-Week Blitz to the Top
Launched globally on February 6, 2026, Nioh 3 drew players into its treacherous vision of feudal Japan almost immediately. The game’s PC debut on Steam was particularly explosive, drawing 70,000 concurrent players on day one. The numbers continued to climb, peaking at an impressive 88,000 players just two days later on February 8.
To truly understand the growth of the franchise, these numbers put the series' evolution into sharp perspective. When Nioh 2 launched in February 2021, it hit an all-time peak of around 41,000 concurrent players on Steam. The original Nioh, which introduced the world to the grueling adventures of William, peaked at roughly 10,000. The jump to nearly 90,000 concurrent users with Nioh 3 highlights the immense trust and anticipation fans have in Team Ninja’s formula.
Interestingly, the Steam metrics have since settled to around 50,000 players. This dip is likely attributed to the game’s notorious difficulty curve. As many reviewers noted, Nioh 3 is welcoming at the start but quickly unveils its overwhelming depth, throwing complex customization, layered leveling systems, and expansive skill trees at players just as they get comfortable.
What Critics and Fans Are Saying
The consensus is clear: Nioh 3 is the culmination of everything Team Ninja has learned over the years. The game currently holds a respectable Metascore of 86/100 based on 97 critic reviews, alongside a "Generally Favorable" user rating of 8.1.
The praise largely centers on the game’s innovative dual-combat system, which critics argue has successfully carved out its own niche separate from other souls-like giants. The ability to switch between samurai precision and ninja agility mid-combo has created a fluidity that feels fresh, even in a crowded market.
The community engagement has been electric. Following the sales announcement, the official Nioh social media channels have been flooded with clips of players mastering new stances and taking down massive yokai.
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Check out the official announcement and community celebration here.
The Elephant in the Dojo: Performance Woes
However, the journey through the dark realms isn't entirely without blemish. If there is one shadow looming over this success, it is the perennial issue of technical optimization. Historically, Team Ninja’s PC ports have been met with criticism regarding performance, and Nioh 3 is no exception.
For a AAA title released in 2026, some reviewers point out that the visual fidelity feels somewhat dated. More critically, the game suffers from subpar CPU and GPU optimization, largely attributed to the limitations of Team Ninja’s proprietary Katana engine. Players have reported frame drops during intense combat sequences, a frustrating occurrence in a game where split-second timing is the difference between life and death.
Despite these technical hurdles, the momentum remains unshaken. The core gameplay loop—mastering stances, exploring the warring states period, and facing the toughest yokai enemies to date—proves too addictive to ignore.
The Verdict
Nioh 3 stands as a testament to Team Ninja’s dedication to their craft. While it may struggle with the technical polish expected in 2026, the heart of the game beats stronger than ever. With over a million warriors already enlisted in the fight and franchise lifetime sales hitting new heights, Nioh 3 is a pivotal moment for the studio and a must-play for fans of the genre.
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Buy Nioh 3 on Amazon here
Source(s): Team Ninja / Koei Tecmo Official Announcements
Nioh 3 has already surpassed 1 million copies sold, pushing the franchise to an incredible 10 million units worldwide.
— 『仁王』 Nioh_Official (@nioh_game) February 20, 2026
Thank you for your continued support. We hope you keep enjoying the Nioh series.https://t.co/kiPMBD6XFo#Nioh3 #Nioh pic.twitter.com/FIRJiLoHdj