Pokemon Legends: Z-A has made waves as the top-selling game in Europe last week. However, it’s worth noting that this marks the lowest launch for a Pokemon title since the initial releases of the Switch era. Despite being on track with over 5.8 million copies sold in its debut week—a strong figure that indicates the franchise’s ongoing popularity—this installment, especially with its title featuring the word “Pokemon,” was always likely to succeed. It reportedly only needs to sell 200,000 units to achieve profitability, aided significantly by a bundle release featuring the Switch 2 edition.
Furthermore, according to The Game Business, Pokemon Legends: Z-A not only topped the charts in Europe but also managed to outperform Battlefield 6 in sales. The launch positively impacted Switch 2 sales as well, with the Nintendo Switch 2 edition of Pokemon Legends: Z-A outperforming its standard counterpart in the UK market.
Initial Sales Figures and Comparison
With its impressive sales of over 5.8 million copies, Pokemon Legends: Z-A has solidified its status as a commercial success, although it still trails behind Legends: Arceus from a few years ago. Critics have favorably rated the game, giving it a Metacritic score that positions it as the second-best Pokemon title for the Nintendo Switch to date, with only Legends: Arceus ranking higher.
It’s estimated that Pokemon Legends: Z-A only requires 200,000 units to break even. Former Nintendo marketing officials have commented that this perhaps calls for increased funding for future projects to enhance their potential.
Comparative Launch Success
Although the 5.8 million initial sales are impressive, they reflect a slower start compared to Pokemon Legends: Arceus. Analysts from The Game Business point out that this launch is notably the weakest one for a mainline Pokemon RPG in Europe since Pokemon: Let’s Go! Pikachu and Let’s Go! Eevee debuted in 2018, managing to sell 3 million copies in their first week globally.
While a solid launch is still commendable, it raises questions about the factors contributing to the decline in initial sales. It could be due to the rocky launch experience many encountered with Scarlet and Violet, which might have left some fans hesitant, or perhaps the new combat mechanics are less popular than anticipated.
Don’t forget to check out our Pokemon Legends: Z-A review and get tips to kickstart your journey in this new RPG adventure!