As we move into 2025, the outlook for physical media in the gaming industry seems dim, especially with the emergence of Nintendo’s Switch 2 game-key cards and the growing trend towards digital downloads. However, there’s a small beacon of hope. According to reports from Mat Piscatella of Circana Research Tracking Service shared on Bluesky, “Pokémon Legends: Z-A achieved an impressive retail launch in the US,” where the physical unit and dollar sales during the launch week were the highest for a new physical game since
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom back in May 2023.
Indeed, it’s a modest victory for physical media, but it’s a moment that enthusiasts and preservationists should indeed appreciate. They must celebrate these small wins amid a shifting landscape.
Impressive Sales Figures
In its initial week, Pokémon Legends: Z-A sold over 5.8 million copies, solidifying its status as a successful real-time RPG, even if it presently trails behind its predecessor, Legends: Arceus.
- Despite achieving remarkable sales, it’s also worth noting that this is the smallest launch for a Pokémon RPG in Europe in seven years, following the release of Pokémon: Let’s Go! Pikachu and Let’s Go! Eevee in 2018.
- Furthermore, CD Projekt recently stated that discontinuing game-key cards for Cyberpunk 2077 on Switch 2 was a beneficial decision, with 75% of those sales occurring in physical format.
Critical Reception
On the review front, Pokémon Legends: Z-A mirrors this commercial success. While a 4/5-star rating from GamesRadar is notable, the game also boasts a solid 78 critic score on Metacritic, in comparison to the 83 Metascore of Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
While Pokémon Sword and Shield left me feeling less engaged, Pokémon Legends: Z-A has rekindled my enthusiasm for the franchise.