The Pokémon Company has announced that Pokémon Legends: Z-A has sold over 5.8 million copies worldwide in its first week since launch on October 16, 2025. It marks a debut for the latest entry in the Pokémon franchise. The game is available for both Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. Interestingly, almost half of these sales came from the Switch 2 version. It shows that the new console is already boosting game performance.
While 5.8 million in the first week is impressive, Pokémon Legends: Z-A does not quite reach the record-breaking figures of some earlier Pokémon titles. For comparison, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet sold 10 million copies in just three days, while Pokémon Legends: Arceus managed around 6.5 million copies in the same period.
In Japan, Z-A sold about 1.48 million physical units within the first four days, with 872,000 copies on the original Switch and 613,000 on the Switch 2. This makes it the biggest game launch of 2025 in Japan, and globally, it ranks as the fifth-best Pokémon launch ever.
There are a few reasons behind this strong start. The most notable is the dual platform release. The simultaneous launch on both Switch generations widened its audience. Switch 2’s strong debut also helped lift sales, with many players choosing Z-A as their first game on the new console.
The game follows the success of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, so fans are eager to experience another open-world adventure in the “Legends” line.
Early reactions to Pokémon Legends: Z-A have been mostly positive. Players are praising the improved visuals, smoother gameplay, and the world design that feels larger and more dynamic than previous entries. Critics have also noted that the Switch 2 version delivers a noticeably better performance, which might encourage more players to upgrade to the new console..
Compared to Legends: Arceus, Z-A focuses more on polish and story depth rather than reinventing the gameplay formula. So, a few people also say that the game feels like an evolution rather than a revolution.
If Z-A maintains its current momentum, it could easily cross 10 million sales within its first few months, putting it among the most successful Pokémon spin-offs to date.
