Nintendo already has its first hit of the year with Pokémon Legends: Arceus, with the company announcing that the title has already sold over 6.5 million copies within its first week.
The announcement, made via Nintendo of America’s Twitter account thanks the “over 6.5 million explorers worldwide” who have already picked up the game.Pokémon Legends: Arceus, in a notable departure from the mainline Pokémon games, transports players to the past and boasts a fully open world, revised battle system, and places a greater emphasis on exploration and catching Pokémon rather than fighting them.
Amid all these differences, the newest title was frequently criticized due to its lack of high-fidelity graphics and what appeared to be hitches in its performance power, often being compared to less-powerful and older games from generations past.
Thank you to the more than 6.5 million explorers worldwide who have already embarked on an exciting new adventure in #PokemonLegendsArceus!
We hope you're loading up on more potato mochi before your next research mission! pic.twitter.com/u1MKRHkhhD
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) February 4, 2022
It seems that these criticisms did not significantly slow sales however, which for the most part seem on par with the most recent titles in the Pokémon series. Last fall’s remakes Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl sold more than 6 million copies in their first week, as did 2019’s Pokémon Sword and Shield. Each is also among the Nintendo Switch’s top ten best-selling titles, which seems like a good sign for Pokémon Legends: Arceus and the Switch, which just recently became Nintendo’s best-selling home console. Basically, it’s been a really good time for Pokémon.
The hits aren’t likely to stop either, since Nintendo’s got a full slate of games coming this year that will continue with March’s Kirby and the Forgotten Lands.
Written by Moises Taveras on behalf of GLHF.
