Nintendo shares closed 7% higher in Japan on Friday after the company said Pokémon Pokopia sales had surpassed 5 million units, CNBC reports. Bloomberg also reported that Nintendo shares rose after global sales of the game topped 5 million since its March launch, with some analysts saying the stock had resumed an upward trajectory. According to CNBC, Nintendo said Thursday that Pokopia reached the milestone just over four months after launching on March 5. The outlet reports that would make the title the second-best-selling game on the Switch 2, ahead of Donkey Kong Bananza and behind Mario Kart World. The reaction matters because Pokopia was not initially framed by investors as a guaranteed blockbuster, CNBC reports. The game is a spin-off from the main Pokémon franchise, first announced last September, and CNBC says its play style includes elements of Animal Crossing, one of Nintendo’s most successful titles on the original Switch. Investors track Nintendo software sales closely because hit games can help drive console shipments, CNBC notes. That connection is especially relevant for the Switch 2, which has been facing headwinds: CNBC reports that rising memory prices forced Nintendo to raise prices on the console, which went on sale just over a year ago. The console numbers remain under pressure. CNBC reports Nintendo sold 3.82 million Switch 2 units in the June quarter, down 34.4% year over year, and forecast 16.5 million Switch 2 console sales for the fiscal year to March 31, 2027, also below the prior comparable period. Nintendo is trying to extend Pokopia’s momentum. CNBC reports the company also announced expansion packs and updates for the game on Thursday, aimed at bringing in new players and keeping existing users engaged. The stock move comes after a difficult year for Nintendo shares. CNBC says the stock is still down more than 16% this year, but has rallied more than 26% over the past month as investors bet on an improving outlook and look ahead to larger releases. That release slate includes a planned Switch 2 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, CNBC reports. The outlet also says two new Pokémon games are slated for next year, keeping two of Nintendo’s most important franchises central to the Switch 2 cycle. Who benefits: Nintendo shareholders benefit from evidence that a spin-off title can outperform expectations. The Pokopia franchise also gains from planned expansion packs and updates, according to CNBC. Who's exposed: Nintendo remains exposed to Switch 2 demand pressure after a 34.4% year-over-year June-quarter console sales decline reported by CNBC. Higher memory costs and the related console price increase remain part of the overhang.