How a “quieter” Pokémon launch still shattered retail records

Pokémon Legends: Z-A has defied expectations with a blockbuster retail performance in the United States, achieving what no game has accomplished since The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom dominated sales charts in May 2023. According to industry tracking firm Circana, the latest Pokémon adventure has secured the biggest physical game launch in the US in over two years .

The announcement came from Circana’s executive director and video game industry analyst Mat Piscatella, who confirmed that “launch week physical unit and dollar sales of Pokémon Legends: Z-A were the biggest for a new physical video game launch since The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” . This remarkable achievement highlights the enduring power of physical game sales within the Nintendo ecosystem, where collectors and players continue to show strong preference for cartridge-based games compared to other gaming platforms .

A Tale of Three Markets: Z-A’s Divergent Regional Performance

While Pokémon Legends: Z-A exploded onto the scene in the US market, its global reception tells a more nuanced story about regional preferences and the evolving Pokémon fanbase.

🎯 Domestic Dominance: Japan’s Record-Breaking Enthusiasm

In Japan, Pokémon Legends: Z-A delivered an absolutely stellar performance, achieving the largest game debut of 2025 with 1,485,457 physical units sold in its first week . The sales split between platforms demonstrates healthy cross-generational engagement:

• Nintendo Switch: 872,552 units
• Switch 2: 612,905 units

This impressive launch not only surpassed the performance of its predecessor Pokémon Legends: Arceus (which sold 1.42 million units in its debut week) but also positioned Z-A among the top ten largest Japanese debuts in the franchise’s storied history . The game’s release also provided a significant boost to hardware sales, with Switch 2 experiencing its second-best week since launch as the console officially surpassed 2.4 million units sold in Japan .

🌍 European Markets: More Measured Reception

European markets presented a different picture for Z-A’s launch, with physical sales showing a noticeable decline compared to previous Pokémon entries . In the UK, early physical sales were approximately 40% lower than Pokémon Legends: Arceus, with 51% of sales attributed to the Switch 2 version .

Spain reported similar trends, where Z-A sold 89,000 physical units at launch—significantly behind Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (198,000 units) and Arceus (140,000 units) . This performance places Z-A near the bottom of mainline Pokémon launches in Spain, ahead of only the Let’s Go titles and Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon .

Global Context and Market Analysis

The Pokémon Company officially reported that Pokémon Legends: Z-A sold 5.8 million copies worldwide in its debut week . While this places it as the fifth-best-selling Pokémon game on Nintendo Switch, it trails behind other recent entries:

• Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: 10 million units
• Pokémon Legends: Arceus: 6.5 million units
• Pokémon Sword & Shield: 6 million units
• Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl: 6 million units

The disparity between regional physical sales and overall performance (including digital) suggests varying market preferences across territories. The strong US physical sales performance is particularly noteworthy given the industry-wide shift toward digital purchases, highlighting Nintendo’s unique position as the last major publisher maintaining significant physical sales focus .

Critical Reception and Future Prospects

Despite mixed reactions from some fans online, critical reviews for Pokémon Legends: Z-A have been largely positive. The game has been praised as “the most cohesive, thoughtfully constructed Pokémon RPG of the HD era” according to Wccftech’s review, which highlighted its “top-notch new combat mechanics, solid gameplay loop, and refreshing level of polish” .

The timing of Z-A’s release close to the holiday season suggests potential for sustained sales momentum, as buyers may be waiting for holiday gift-giving occasions before purchasing . This differs from Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which launched in January with no similar seasonal considerations.

The Power of Pokémon in a Changing Market

The success of Pokémon Legends: Z-A in the US retail market demonstrates that even a “quieter” Pokémon launch—by the franchise’s extraordinary standards—still represents a major industry event. The game’s ability to surpass Tears of the Kingdom’s physical launch record after more than two years underscores several key market insights:

• Nintendo’s unique retail strength: While other platforms have shifted dramatically toward digital sales, Nintendo maintains exceptional physical sales performance
• Multi-platform strategy success: The simultaneous release on both Switch and Switch 2 allowed the game to reach audiences across Nintendo’s ecosystem
• Regional variation: The Pokémon audience responds differently across global markets, with the US showing particularly strong support for physical game editions

As the gaming industry continues to evolve, Pokémon Legends: Z-A represents both a continuation of Nintendo’s retail dominance and an interesting case study in how established franchises navigate generational hardware transitions and changing consumer preferences.

What do you think about Z-A’s launch performance? Have you picked up your copy yet, and which platform did you choose? Let us know in the comments below!