Key Takeaways
1. Pokémon Legends: Z-A sold 5.8 million units in its first week, making it the fifth highest launch in the franchise.
2. Approximately half of the sales were from the new Nintendo Switch 2, which launched on the same day as the game.
3. The game needs to sell an additional 200,000 units to cover its production budget of $13 million.
4. In Japan, it sold 1.485 million units, while it leads physical sales charts in the UK, with 51% on Switch 2.
5. User ratings are low, with a score of 4.6 out of 10, reflecting player dissatisfaction over graphics and gameplay.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A has made a notable impact in sales within just a week of its launch. In its first four days, the game moved 5.8 million units on the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, which was released on October 16, 2025.
Official Announcement by Pokémon Company
In a press release, the Pokémon Company shared:
“We are excited to inform you that our Nintendo Switch 2/Nintendo Switch title ‘Pokemon Legends: Z-A’, which launched globally on Thursday, October 16, 2025, has achieved worldwide sales of 5.8 million units in its first week, with roughly half of those units being played on the Nintendo Switch 2.”
Performance in the Franchise
The solid sales performance of Pokémon Legends: Z-A places it as the fifth highest in first-week sales for the Pokémon franchise. However, these numbers were somewhat expected, given the brand’s strong sales history. Insider reports suggest that the game needs to sell an additional 200,000 units to cover its production budget of $13 million or 2 billion Yen.
Sales tracker Pierre485 on X reported that the top four launches in Pokémon history are held by Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, which sold 10 million in just three days; Pokémon Legends Arceus at 6.5 million in its first week; Pokémon Sword and Shield with 6 million during its opening weekend; and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, which also earned 6 million in three days.
Regional Sales Insights
In Japan, Pokémon Legends: Z-A has excelled in sales, moving 1.485 million units, with 872,552 on the original Switch and 615,905 on the Nintendo Switch 2. In the UK, the game leads physical sales charts, with 51% of total sales on the Switch 2. Nevertheless, its launch figures are about 40% lower than those of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which debuted on January 28, 2022.
As the second title in the Pokémon Legends series after Arceus, Pokémon Legends: Z-A has experienced mixed feedback from players, even with its commercial success. The critics gave it a score of 79 out of 100 on Metacritic; however, user ratings tell a different story.
User Ratings and Community Reaction
Pokémon Legends: Z-A has a user score of 4.6, categorized as “Generally Unfavorable,” based on 2,553 reviews. Many players have pointed out the game’s unsatisfactory graphics, lack of exploration, and a “flat” representation of Lumiose City.
A significant number of Pokémon enthusiasts resorted to review-bombing the game shortly after its release, expressing their frustration with Game Freak’s supposed unwillingness to bring fresh ideas to the Pokémon series.
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