Battlefield 6 debuted extremely strong in Europe, but to no one’s surprise, it’s been unseated in unit sales by Pokémon Legends: Z-A. The latter debuted in the top spot in GSD’s physical and digital game sales chart, with EA’s shooter dropping to second for the week ending October 19th (as reported by Chris Dring of The Game Business).
It’s also no surprise that it’s sold more on Nintendo Switch 2 – even Nintendo confirmed that half of all launch week sales were on the latest platform (despite the Switch 1’s larger install base). However, sales are about 28 percent lower than those of its predecessor, Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Furthermore, in terms of unit sales, it has accrued the least since the Pokémon: Let’s Go titles.
Of course, this doesn’t account for digital sales, and the fact that the title could still unseat Battlefield 6 with physical sales alone is beyond impressive. However, as Dring notes, “Nintendo games sell better at physical retail than via the eShop, in contrast to PlayStation, Xbox and PC.”
For more details about Pokémon Legends: Z-A, check out our review. Other notable elements of the chart include Little Nightmares 3 falling to eighth place, with sales dropping by 72 percent, and Mario Kart World re-entering the top ten thanks to its Switch 2 bundle.
It’s interesting to see how Pokémon Legends: Z-A has made such a strong debut in Europe, even if it didn’t quite match Arceus. The gaming landscape is always shifting, and it’s fascinating to watch these trends unfold. Looking forward to seeing how both titles perform in the coming months!
It’s definitely impressive! The strong debut could be attributed to the franchise’s loyal fan base, but it’s also worth noting how the game’s unique features might have attracted new players. It’ll be interesting to see how it performs in the long run compared to Arceus.
Absolutely, the loyal fan base plays a huge role! Additionally, the nostalgia factor from long-time players likely contributed to the excitement around its release, especially with its unique features compared to previous titles.
Absolutely! Nostalgia definitely fuels engagement, especially with franchises like Pokémon. It’s interesting to see how new gameplay mechanics can also attract both old and new players, potentially influencing future sales trends.
You’re right about nostalgia playing a big role! Interestingly, Pokémon Legends: Z-A has also introduced new gameplay mechanics that might attract both old fans and newcomers. It’s fascinating to see how these innovations impact sales compared to previous titles.