It’s Super Effective! Pokemon Legends: Z-A Sells a Whopping 5.8 Million in First Week

A Legendary Launch for a Legendary Series

The Pokémon Company has just dropped some seriously impressive numbers. ‘Pokémon Legends: Z-A,’ the highly anticipated follow-up to the game-changing ‘Pokémon Legends: Arceus,’ has sold a staggering 5.8 million copies worldwide in its first week. Since its launch on October 16, 2025, the game has been flying off both physical and digital shelves, proving once again that the power of the Pokémon brand is an unstoppable force in the gaming world.

This is a monumental launch by any measure, immediately placing ‘Z-A’ among the best-selling titles of the year. But the story behind the numbers is even more interesting, revealing a successful launch on new hardware and a fan community that is passionately engaged with the series’ bold new direction.

Putting the Numbers in Perspective

A 5.8 million unit launch week is a huge achievement, making ‘Pokémon Legends: Z-A’ the fifth-best Pokémon launch of all time. So how does it stack up against its predecessors? While it didn’t quite reach the meteoric heights of ‘Pokémon Scarlet & Violet’ (10 million in 3 days) or its direct predecessor ‘Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ (6.5 million in a week), it comfortably outperformed classics like ‘Pokémon X & Y’ and ‘Let’s Go Pikachu / Eevee.’ This proves that the ‘Legends’ sub-series is a certified blockbuster in its own right.

Here’s a quick look at how the recent launches compare:

Perhaps the most significant statistic from the announcement is that roughly half of those 5.8 million sales were for the brand-new Nintendo Switch 2. This is a massive win for Nintendo’s new hardware, establishing ‘Z-A’ as one of its most important and successful launch titles.

A Controversial but Successful New Formula

‘Pokémon Legends: Z-A’ is set in the modern-day Lumiose City from ‘Pokémon X & Y,’ where players participate in an urban redevelopment plan to create a city for both people and Pokémon. The game’s biggest innovation, and its biggest point of discussion, is the complete overhaul of the battle system. ‘Z-A’ moves away from the series’ traditional turn-based combat and introduces a new real-time battle system. This change has been met with a mix of praise and criticism from the community.

Some players have praised the new system as a fresh and exciting direction for the franchise, while others feel it lacks the strategic depth of the classic formula and have criticized the move away from the exploration-heavy gameplay that made ‘Arceus’ so beloved. Despite this debate, the sales numbers speak for themselves. The move to real-time combat has clearly not deterred millions of fans from jumping in.

A Critical Darling and a Commercial Juggernaut

The game hasn’t just sold well; it’s also been a hit with critics. VGC’s review called it “a love letter to both players who grew up with X & Y, and those who’ve been here the whole time.” IGN’s 8/10 review concluded that the game “finally feels like Game Freak hitting its stride in Pokémon’s 3D era.” This combination of critical acclaim and massive commercial success validates Game Freak’s decision to use the ‘Legends’ series as a space for bold experimentation.

With a paid DLC, ‘Mega Dimension,’ already announced for February 2026, it’s clear that the journey in Lumiose City is just getting started.

Conclusion

‘Pokémon Legends: Z-A’ is an undeniable triumph. It successfully launched on two different consoles, introduced a brand-new real-time combat system to a traditionally turn-based franchise, and still managed to sell nearly 6 million copies in its first week. It’s a testament to the enduring power of the Pokémon IP and a clear sign that players are hungry for new and innovative experiences in the world of Pokémon. Game Freak took a risk, and it paid off in a big way.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many copies did Pokémon Legends: Z-A sell in its first week?

‘Pokémon Legends: Z-A’ sold 5.8 million units worldwide in its first seven days of release.

How did the sales compare to Pokémon Legends: Arceus?

It sold slightly less than its predecessor. ‘Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ sold 6.5 million copies in its first week back in 2022.

What is the new battle system like in Z-A?

The game moves away from the traditional turn-based combat of the mainline series and introduces a new real-time action battle system.

Was the game successful on the Nintendo Switch 2?

Yes, incredibly so. According to The Pokémon Company, about half of the 5.8 million copies sold were for the Nintendo Switch 2, making it one of the console’s biggest launch titles.

What did critics think of the game?

The game has received strong reviews, with many critics praising its new ideas and referring to it as a great step forward for the series in its 3D era.

Is there any DLC planned for the game?

Yes, a paid DLC expansion called ‘Mega Dimension,’ which is set after the events of the main game, is scheduled to launch on February 28, 2026.