Pokémon Legends: Z-A Smashes 5.8 Million in First Week, Outselling X/Y and Roadblocking the Competition

Pokémon Legends: Z-A just tore through its first week on sale, racking up 5.8 million copies sold across both physical and digital formats. That’s not just flashy for a Pokémon release, half those numbers come straight from the new Switch 2, making this launch one of the freshest, most headline-grabbing moments in recent Nintendo history.

This data comes directly from the official Pokémon Company, and it places Z-A right among the series’ fastest-selling titles ever. It didn’t just squeak past a few rivals either; Pokémon Legends: Z-A already outsold stalwarts like Pokémon X/Y and Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu/Eevee. It’s now snapping at the heels of even bigger giants.

How Does Z-A Stack Up Against Pokémon’s Heavy Hitters?

Here’s where it gets interesting. Sales specialist Pierre485 crunched the numbers on social media, putting Z-A’s launch into perspective. It hasn’t caught the absolute monsters, Pokémon Scarlet/Violet, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, and Sword/Shield, which set records with their own debuts, but Z-A’s pace is nothing short of aggressive. Passing X/Y and Let’s Go Pikachu/Eevee in a flash wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card until now.

The launch wasn’t just successful because of nostalgia. An exclusive Switch 2 hardware bundle, announced back in July, definitely juiced those numbers. Players flocked to pick up the new console partnered with Z-A, lured by the promise of improved graphics and higher frame rates compared to regular Switch versions. If you owned it on the original Switch, you didn’t lose out; Nintendo let players upgrade their Z-A copy to the Switch 2 edition via an upgrade pack.

The Game Itself: Mega Evolutions Return with a New Twist on Battles

If you’ve watched any gameplay, you’d notice fans are buzzing about more than sales. Mega Evolutions make a roaring return, alongside a dynamic 3D Battle Arena system that steps firmly away from the traditional turn-based format. Pokémon can actually move around during fights, and for the first time, your trainer can get knocked out in battle. That new layer of risk has sparked plenty of conversation; it’s a curveball even for veteran players.

Eurogamer’s Chris Tapsell weighed in with a three-star review, calling Z-A “much more tightly focused – and delightfully goofy – return to better form. At least by modern Pokémon’s standards.” He was less enchanted by Lumiose City, suggesting there’s still room for polish on the game’s urban centrepiece, but overall the game feels like a confident, playful evolution of the formula.

Expect opinions to keep rolling in; the sheer surge of new players on Switch 2 means the conversation is going nowhere. If you’ve snagged a copy already, you’re part of one of the biggest Pokémon launches in recent memory. If not, it’s clear Z-A has already staked a place in franchise history, both for how it plays and how fast it’s selling.