Nintendo has revealed that Pokemon Scarlet & Pokemon Violet global sales have surpassed 10 million combined units in the first three days since its launch on November 18, 2022. Nintendo says this includes both packaged and downloadable versions. This is a new record as the latest entries in the Pokemon series have achieved the largest worldwide launch weekend sales in Nintendo history.
Scarlet and Violet follow Pokemon Sword and Shield which released three years ago for Nintendo Switch. These are the first games in the series where players experience a unique open-world Pokemon adventure. Players embark on a new type of journey, freely exploring at their own pace and tackling multiple main story paths in any order. Pokemon Scarlet & Violet also offer expanded multiplayer modes, allowing up to four players to travel across the land together.
“With the new Pokémon, Nintendo achieved a rare feat among all video game companies: scoring two blockbusters in a difficult 2022 for the industry,” Serkan Toto, CEO of Tokyo-based consultancy Kantan Games, told CNBC.
“Sure, Pokémon is almost always a safe bet, but the new title has exceeded expectations, just like Splatoon 3 did earlier this year.”
Splatoon 3 surpassed 3.45 million units sold in Japan which is a domestic record for any Nintendo Switch software within its first three days of sales before Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet.
Pokemon has three of the top ten slots of lifetime Nintendo Switch software sales. Let’s Go, Pikachu and Let’s Go, Eevee at number ten. Pokemon Brillant Diamond and Shining Pearl are at number eight, and Sword and Shield are at number five. The best-selling Nintendo Switch title is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe which has sold over 48 million units as of the end of September. Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet need to sell just under five million more combined units to get into the top ten.