The Pokémon franchise is once again proving unstoppable. Pokémon Legends: Z-A has stormed onto the charts with a massive 5.8 million copies sold in its very first week – a figure that officially surpasses the week-one performance of Pokémon X and Y. Even more impressive? Nearly half of those sales came from the Nintendo Switch 2 version.
The launch marks one of the biggest openings for a Pokémon title in recent memory, and it’s sending a clear message: fans were ready for this next-generation adventure.
A Record-Breaking Debut
Pokémon Legends: Z-A, which released worldwide on October 16, 2025, serves as a new chapter in the Pokémon Legends sub-series. Early sales reports show that within just seven days of release, it managed to hit 5.8 million units across physical and digital platforms. That number officially places it ahead of Pokémon X and Y’s launch record from 2013, which sold around 4 million copies in its first weekend.
For a franchise that has already sold hundreds of millions of games worldwide, that’s no small feat. Pokémon Legends: Z-A didn’t just match expectations – it crushed them. And with roughly half of its sales coming from the brand-new Switch 2 hardware, Nintendo’s console transition strategy seems to be working exactly as intended.
The Switch 2 Factor
One of the most fascinating details about this launch is the split between platforms. Despite the Nintendo Switch 2 only being a few months old, the fact that about 50% of Z-A’s total sales came from it shows just how eager players are to experience Pokémon in next-gen quality.
The improved visuals, faster load times, and smoother performance on Switch 2 have been major talking points among fans. Many who had held off upgrading their hardware found the new Pokémon title to be the perfect reason to make the leap. Meanwhile, the original Switch version still performed admirably, proving there’s plenty of life left in the older console.
This dual-release strategy allowed The Pokémon Company to reach both existing fans who haven’t upgraded yet and early adopters hungry for a showcase title. It’s a smart move that mirrors what other major studios have done during console transitions – and it clearly paid off.
Why the Numbers Matter
Let’s put this into perspective. Pokémon X and Y were groundbreaking titles when they arrived on the Nintendo 3DS more than a decade ago. They introduced the fully 3D mainline Pokémon experience and sold around 4 million copies in their first few days. For years, that was seen as one of the franchise’s strongest debuts.
Now, Pokémon Legends: Z-A has not only surpassed those figures but done so in a week where it had to share attention between two hardware generations. That makes the 5.8 million milestone even more impressive. It shows that interest in Pokémon remains sky-high – and perhaps even stronger than ever.
It also demonstrates the continued success of the Pokémon Legends formula. The semi-open-world exploration and real-time catching mechanics introduced in Pokémon Legends: Arceus clearly struck a chord with players, and Z-A’s return to the Kalos region has added a layer of nostalgia that’s helping drive sales.
A Perfect Storm of Hype
Several factors likely fueled this monster debut:
- Kalos Nostalgia: Fans have been waiting years to revisit the Kalos region from X and Y. The marketing for Z-A leaned heavily into that nostalgia, and it clearly worked.
- Next-Gen Excitement: The Switch 2’s launch window gave players a powerful incentive to pick up new hardware alongside one of Nintendo’s biggest franchises.
- Word-of-Mouth Buzz: Early reviews and social media reactions praised the game’s visuals, exploration, and performance improvements on Switch 2.
- Global Release Timing: Unlike older Pokémon titles that sometimes launched in waves, Z-A dropped worldwide on the same day – amplifying its early momentum.
- Digital Convenience: With a growing share of players buying digitally, sales can ramp up faster than ever before, especially during launch week.
The result was a near-perfect combination of nostalgia, innovation, and timing.
The Road Ahead
While first-week numbers tell one story, what comes next will be just as interesting. Pokémon Legends: Z-A’s long-term success will depend on post-launch support, updates, and potential DLC – something The Pokémon Company has increasingly embraced with recent titles.
Player feedback has already been largely positive, with many calling it the smoothest Pokémon launch since the early Switch era. Performance differences between the two console versions have been noted, but not enough to dampen enthusiasm. In fact, the Switch 2 version has been praised as one of the best-looking Pokémon games ever made.
If this momentum continues, Z-A could easily join the ranks of the top-selling Pokémon games of all time. For reference, Pokémon Legends: Arceus eventually passed 14 million units worldwide – and Z-A’s faster start suggests it could surpass that mark in the months ahead.
A Strong Start for the Switch 2 Era
For Nintendo, these numbers are more than just a victory for one game. They signal a smooth and healthy start to the Switch 2 era. Launch titles that sell millions in their first week help establish confidence in new hardware, and Z-A has done exactly that.
The combination of cross-generation support and a flagship franchise launch shows that Nintendo knows how to handle a transition. And with more major titles expected in 2026, the company’s momentum doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
Final Thoughts
Pokémon Legends: Z-A’s 5.8 million-unit debut is not only a testament to the enduring power of the Pokémon brand but also proof that players still crave big, polished, adventure-driven experiences. It has managed to outpace one of the most beloved entries in the series, Pokémon X and Y, while simultaneously serving as a showcase for Nintendo’s newest console.
In short: Pokémon is still the king of handheld gaming, and Z-A has just set the tone for the next generation.
