Key Takeaways
- Pokémon Legends: Z-A sold 5.8 million copies worldwide in its first week of release.
- In Japan, combined Switch and Switch 2 sales reached 1.48 million units, topping local charts.
- Despite strong domestic sales, Z-A fell short of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which sold 6.5 million copies globally at launch.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Makes Strong Debut, But Not Record-Breaking
Nintendo has announced that Pokémon Legends: Z-A has sold approximately 5.8 million copies worldwide within its first week of launch, marking a strong but not record-setting debut for the latest entry in the Pokémon franchise.
The figure, revealed through an official Japanese press release on October 24, 2025, places Z-A among the top-selling games of the year. However, it falls short of the bar set by its 2022 predecessor, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which reached 6.5 million copies sold in its opening week.
Released on October 16, 2025, for both the Nintendo Switch and the next-generation Switch 2, Z-A continues the Pokémon series’ legacy of strong first-week performance—though shifting global trends may signal an evolving market for the long-running franchise.
Japan Leads with 1.48 Million Copies Sold
In Japan, Pokémon Legends: Z-A performed particularly well, taking both the first and second spots in Famitsu’s weekly gaming sales chart thanks to its dual-platform release.
According to the data, the Nintendo Switch edition sold 872,552 copies, while the Switch 2 edition moved 612,905 copies. Combined, that’s 1,485,457 units sold in Japan during launch week — narrowly surpassing Arceus’ debut total of 1,424,657 units in the same region.
This makes Z-A one of the most successful Pokémon launches ever in Japan, reflecting continued enthusiasm for the franchise among domestic players, especially with the introduction of enhanced visuals and new gameplay mechanics optimized for the Switch 2’s hardware.
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Global Performance Lags Behind Arceus
While Pokémon Legends: Z-A has shown strong regional sales, its global performance fell short compared to Arceus. Nintendo’s translated press release confirmed the 5.8 million global figure — roughly 700,000 units fewer than Arceus achieved during its launch week in February 2022.
The difference may be attributed to a mix of factors: competition from other major releases, the split platform rollout between Switch and Switch 2, and the franchise’s increasingly segmented fan base. Some analysts also point to Z-A’s more experimental direction and storytelling as potential reasons why its worldwide traction didn’t match the initial hype of Arceus.
Still, a 5.8 million launch is far from disappointing. It demonstrates Pokémon’s enduring global power and the continued strength of Nintendo’s hybrid platform ecosystem.
What the Sales Mean for Pokémon’s Future
The early sales figures suggest that Pokémon Legends: Z-A has successfully maintained the franchise’s commercial momentum while testing new technical and creative boundaries. Its strong domestic performance could influence Nintendo and The Pokémon Company’s approach to future releases — particularly in how they balance cross-generation launches between hardware platforms.
Industry observers expect Z-A to continue selling steadily throughout the holiday season, especially with ongoing updates, limited-time events, and potential tie-ins with other Pokémon media.
As Nintendo looks toward 2026, the results from Z-A’s debut week reaffirm Pokémon’s place as a cornerstone of its global success — even when it doesn’t break its own records.
Conclusion: A Solid Win, Even If Not a Legendary One
While Pokémon Legends: Z-A didn’t surpass Arceus’ monumental launch, its 5.8 million first-week sales showcase a robust performance for a series entering its third decade. Its near-record Japanese debut highlights Pokémon’s staying power at home, even as international sales reflect a slightly more tempered response.
For Nintendo, it’s another reminder that the Pokémon brand remains one of gaming’s most reliable global juggernauts — one capable of commanding millions of sales within days, generation after generation.
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