Nintendo has announced that Pokémon Scarlet & Violet have sold more than 10 million units worldwide in their first three days of release. More than 4 million units have been sold in Japan alone.
On November 18, Pokémon Scarlet & Violet were simultaneously launched as the first open-world games in the franchise. For the first time in three years — since the release of Pokémon Sword & Shield — the Pokémon universe expands with the addition of a new region, Paldea. Players can freely explore the Spanish-inspired world with friends, battle gym leaders in any order, and complete the Pokédex by catching more than one hundred new Pokémon. Generation 9 also introduces sandwich-making during picnics, Titan Pokémon that guard the rare Herba Mystica, and the mechanic of Terastallization.
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company recently published an official news release in Japanese detailing the sales figures of the two titles. The total of 10 million units sold includes physical copies of the individual titles and double packs, as well as digital downloads. The unprecedented commercial success of Scarlet & Violet in three days makes their global launch the highest selling of the entire Pokémon franchise and of any software release on all Nintendo consoles.
Earlier this year, Nintendo released Pokémon Legends: Arceus, a prequel to Pokémon Diamond & Pearl. In its first week, Pokémon Legends: Arceus sold more than six million copies worldwide. Pokémon Legends: Arceus revolutionized Pokémon gameplay with greater freedom to roam the Hisui region, paving the way for an open-world adventure in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet.
Despite the successful sale numbers, Pokémon Scarlet & Violet have been plagued with numerous glitches, which have sorely affected reviews by critics. Nintendo has even begun granting refunds to dissatisfied players, many of whom blame the bugs on rushed development by Game Freak. However, these technical hiccups have not stopped eager Pokémon fans from purchasing and enjoying the remarkably innovative games.
The two newest entries to the Pokémon franchise have expeditiously enamored new fans, delighted older ones, and reigned in former players. Our review grants the titles 8.2/10, noting a “surprisingly deep story, challenging boss battles, and a ton of new Pokémon to meet.” With the two breaking Nintendo sales records, it’s clear that despite performance issues, the newest generation of Pokémon provides a gameplay experience that is both refreshing and nostalgic.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet are available now on Nintendo Switch.
