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Nintendo revealed today that its latest Pokémon games, Scarlet and Violet, have sold more than 10 million units combined in their first three days on the market. It’s the highest level of sales for any game on any Nintendo platform, the publisher says. The title may have received some criticism for its presentation, but gamers are buying it en masse.
According to Nintendo, this number includes both physical and digital versions. Typically, Nintendo product sales reports do not include digital sales. In comparison, PlayStation announced today that God of War Ragnarök, its latest first-party game, has sold 5.1 million units in its first week. It’s the fastest-selling PlayStation first-party title ever, and the number is just over half that of the new Pokémon title.
Scarlet and Violet received criticism from gamers for its mediocre graphics and well-documented bugs. Some have even tried to get a refund for the game, with obvious success. However, it is unlikely that this will have a major impact on sales of this magnitude.
Sales of the new Pokémon are impressive, but not particularly surprising. The series has historically sold well: Pokémon Legends: Arceus topped the sales charts last January, despite launching on the 28th of the month. Nintendo also announced that the franchise had sold more than 30 million units in the 12 months ending March 2022, accounting for both Arceus and Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl.
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