Pokémon Legends: Z-A has officially debuted at the top of the UK physical sales charts, claiming the No.1 spot in its launch week. The latest entry in the long-running Pokémon franchise is off to a strong start commercially, although its physical launch figures fell short compared to its predecessor, Pokémon Legends: Arceus. According to The Game Business editor-in-chief Christopher Dring, retail launch sales for Z-A were approximately 40% lower than Arceus, which released in early 2022. Despite the dip, the title’s performance remains robust, bolstered by strong demand for the new Switch 2 edition.
Dring reported that 51% of all boxed copies sold during launch week were for the Nintendo Switch 2 version, while the remaining share belonged to the original Switch release. This makes Pokémon Legends: Z-A the second biggest Switch 2 launch of 2025, trailing only Mario Kart World. When asked on social media whether the figures included bundle sales, Dring confirmed that they did, though he clarified that the data excluded purchases from Nintendo’s official online store. Regarding digital performance, he noted that digital sales would not drastically change the overall picture, implying that physical and digital demand were proportionally consistent.
While the UK performance offers the first major snapshot of the game’s commercial reception, a fuller global picture is expected to emerge in the coming days once Famitsu’s Japanese charts and Circana’s North American data are released. Early indications suggest strong digital momentum, as Pokémon Legends: Z-A has been charting as the best-selling title on the Nintendo eShop for both Switch and Switch 2 platforms. Given its status as the first cross-generation Pokémon title, expectations remain high for it to sustain long-term sales momentum.
Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, Pokémon Legends: Z-A serves as the second entry in the Legends sub-series following Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Set entirely within Lumiose City in the Kalos region, the game reimagines the franchise’s formula through a narrative-driven, open-zone structure. It was released on October 16, 2025. A downloadable expansion, Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Mega Dimension, has already been announced, suggesting continued post-launch support.
Historically, Pokémon titles have maintained exceptional commercial performance. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet sold 27.15 million copies globally as of June 2025, while Pokémon Sword and Shield reached 26.84 million units. By comparison, Pokémon Legends: Arceus achieved 14.83 million sales by March 2023. Although Z-A is positioned as a spin-off rather than a mainline entry, its early dominance in retail charts indicates that interest in the series remains as strong as ever, particularly with the next-generation audience adopting the Switch 2 platform.
