The highly-anticipated Pokémon Legends: Z-A has achieved a significant sales milestone, moving over 12 million copies worldwide since its release. This impressive figure underscores the game's strong reception and the enduring popularity of the Pokémon franchise as it continues to innovate within the series.
Released on October 16, 2025, for both the Nintendo Switch and the newer Nintendo Switch 2, Pokémon Legends: Z-A transports players to a reimagined Lumiose City in the Kalos region. The game builds on the foundation laid by its predecessor, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, by introducing real-time, dynamic battles that blend action and traditional Pokémon combat elements. Players explore an urban environment undergoing redevelopment, encountering familiar and new Pokémon species while engaging in gameplay that emphasizes strategy, exploration, and immersive interactions.
The title's availability across two platforms has contributed to its rapid sales momentum. Bundles pairing the Nintendo Switch 2 with Pokémon Legends: Z-A — including enhanced editions featuring improved performance, higher resolution, and smoother frame rates — have driven substantial interest. The game's launch aligned with growing adoption of the Nintendo Switch 2, helping it achieve strong sell-through in both physical and digital formats.
Nintendo's recent financial reporting highlights the title's performance, noting its contribution to overall software sales trends. As of the latest quarterly update covering through the end of December 2025, Pokémon Legends: Z-A has demonstrated robust ongoing demand, positioning it as one of the standout performers in the franchise's recent lineup. This success reflects the appeal of the Legends sub-series, which shifts away from turn-based conventions toward more fluid, action-oriented experiences set in richly detailed worlds.
The milestone comes amid a broader wave of success for recent Pokémon mainline entries. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and Pokémon Sword and Shield's major milestones bring the two previous generations of games ever closer to the rank of Pokémon Red and Blue. Scarlet and Violet have officially passed 28.08 million copies sold, while Sword and Shield have reached 27.08 million copies sold. Both games are the second and third-highest-selling Pokémon games of all time, respectively.
This year, Pokémon celebrates its 30th anniversary with celebrations on Pokémon Day on February 27, though details haven’t been confirmed as of writing.
The continued strong sales of Pokémon Legends: Z-A signal promising growth for the franchise as it evolves with new hardware and gameplay innovations. With the series maintaining its status as one of gaming's most successful brands, future updates and potential expansions could further elevate its achievements.
Source: Official Nintendo website
