In an impressive display of market power, Pokemon Legends: Z-A has achieved the most significant physical game launch in the US in almost two and a half years. A recent report highlights that the RPG’s unit and dollar sales for boxed copies have surpassed all new physical game releases since The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom back in May 2023.
Circana’s Mat Piscatella noted the “massive US launch at retail” for Pokemon Legends: Z-A. This incredible success comes shortly after The Pokemon Company announced the game had already sold a staggering 5.8 million copies globally in its first week. Piscatella clarified that these US retail figures do not account for copies bundled with the new Nintendo Switch 2 console.
As shared by Mat Piscatella on October 27, 2025:
Pokémon Legends: Z-A had a massive US launch at retail. Launch week physical unit and dollar sales of Pokémon Legends: Z-A were the biggest for a new physical video game launch since The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom back in May of 2023. Source: Circana Retail Tracking Service
— Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social) October 27, 2025 at 11:03 AM
For context, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom famously sold over 10 million copies within just three days of its 2023 release. This mirrors the debut performance of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet in late 2022, which still holds the record for the best launch in the long-running RPG series. Earlier this year, The Pokemon Company proudly revealed that the entire Pokemon franchise has cumulatively sold nearly half a billion video games worldwide.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A launched on October 16 for both the Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. Players can look forward to future content with planned paid DLC titled “Mega Dimension.” For a deeper dive, readers can explore reviews of Pokemon Legends: Z-A, and trainers seeking assistance on their journey through Lumiose City can consult available guides.
A comprehensive gallery featuring the full Pokedex for Pokemon Legends: Z-A, detailing all confirmed Pokemon and their locations, is also available for fans.