Scarlet/Violet Sales Soar, Second Only to Original Pokémon Games

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have emerged as some of the best-selling Pokémon games of all time. According to Joe Merrick, the webmaster of Serebii.net, and reported by Eurogamer, the combined sales of these two titles have surpassed 25 million copies. This figure places them above all other Pokémon games since the original Pokémon Red/Green/Blue, which sold 31.4 million copies upon its release in 1996 for the Game Boy.

In terms of sales, Scarlet/Violet have edged out Sword/Shield, securing the second spot with 26,790,000 units sold compared to Sword/Shield's 26,720,000. The top five list is completed by Gold/Silver and Diamond/Pearl, with sales of 23.7 million and 16.7 million copies, respectively.

Despite their commercial success, Scarlet/Violet received a mixed reception upon launch, earning scores that rank them among the lowest-rated mainline entries in the series. Fans and critics alike pointed out numerous technical issues, performance problems, and bugs. In IGN's Pokémon Scarlet and Violet review, the game was rated 6/10, with the review stating, "The open-world gameplay of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is a brilliant direction for the future of the franchise, but this promising shift is sabotaged by the numerous ways in which Scarlet and Violet feel deeply unfinished."

Looking ahead, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is slated for release later this year. Set in Lumiose City, the game will explore an urban redevelopment plan aimed at creating a harmonious environment for both people and Pokémon. However, excitement for the upcoming title was tempered by a leak last October that revealed unknown information about several Pokémon games, including Legends Z-A. In response, Nintendo has recently subpoenaed Discord to identify the individual responsible for the "TeraLeak."