The Pokémon leaks keep coming, and the latest revelation is shining a harsh light on Game Freak’s development economics. According to documents from the ongoing massive data breach, the DLC expansion pass for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, titled ‘The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero,’ sold an impressive 6.15 million units by December 2023—representing a 25% attachment rate among the game’s 24+ million player base at that time. But here’s the kicker: the development costs for this DLC were almost as high as those for the full game Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
The Math That Doesn’t Add Up
At first glance, 6.15 million units sounds like a huge success. With the DLC priced at $34.99, that’s potentially over $215 million in revenue. But when you consider that the development budget was nearly comparable to a full standalone game, the profit margins suddenly look much thinner than you’d expect for what is essentially additional content built on an existing engine and framework.
This revelation explains why leaked documents show Game Freak planning to ‘cut the budget for upcoming DLCs’. If the expected return on investment doesn’t justify the costs, the company has to reevaluate its strategy. It’s a stark contrast to the typical DLC model in the industry, where expansions are supposed to be relatively inexpensive to produce since the foundation already exists.
A 25% Attachment Rate: Good or Bad?
In the gaming industry, a 25% attachment rate for premium DLC is actually quite solid. Many major franchises struggle to get even 20% of their player base to purchase additional content. However, the problem isn’t the sales performance—it’s the cost-to-revenue ratio. When your DLC costs almost as much to make as a full game but sells for half the price, the business case becomes questionable.
For context, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet sold over 27 million copies total by March 2025. That means by December 2023, with roughly 24-25 million copies sold, about 6.15 million players opted to continue their journey with the DLC—a respectable conversion rate by any standard.
What the DLC Included
To understand why the development costs were so high, it’s worth looking at what ‘The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero’ actually delivered. The expansion pass included two major content drops:
- The Teal Mask (September 2023): A new story set in the region of Kitakami, introducing new Pokémon and characters.
- The Indigo Disk (December 2023): A continuation taking players to Blueberry Academy, located mostly underwater.
- Mochi Mayhem (January 2024): A post-game epilogue wrapping up the DLC storyline.
The expansion brought back over 230 familiar Pokémon that weren’t in the base game and introduced new legendary Pokémon and mechanics. While substantial, it raises questions about Game Freak’s development efficiency if this content cost nearly as much as creating Legends: Arceus from scratch.
Your Questions About the Pokémon DLC Sales Leak (FAQs)
- How many copies did the Scarlet & Violet DLC sell? 6.15 million units by December 2023, achieving a 25% attachment rate.
- How much did it cost to develop? According to leaks, development costs were almost as high as Pokémon Legends: Arceus, suggesting a budget in the tens of millions of dollars.
- Is a 25% attachment rate good? Yes, it’s above average for premium DLC in the industry. However, profitability depends on development costs.
- What does this mean for future Pokémon DLC? Game Freak is reportedly planning to cut budgets for upcoming DLCs to improve profitability.
- Where did this information come from? It’s part of the massive Game Freak data breach that also revealed budget information for other Pokémon projects.
Conclusion
The Pokémon Scarlet and Violet DLC sales figures paint a complicated picture. On one hand, selling 6.15 million copies with a 25% attachment rate is objectively successful. On the other hand, the revelation that it cost nearly as much as a full game to develop exposes potential inefficiencies in Game Freak’s development process. As the company moves forward with Generation 10 and future expansions, the leaked documents suggest they’re learning from this experience and adjusting their budget strategy. For fans, the hope is that future DLC will find a better balance between content quality and development efficiency—giving players great experiences while maintaining a sustainable business model for one of gaming’s most valuable franchises.