Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Outsell Gen 1 Games In Japan

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Outsell Gen 1 Games In Japan

Key Takeaways

  • Pokemon Scarlet & Violet outsold Pokemon Red & Green in Japan.
  • Despite criticisms, Scarlet & Violet sold 8.3 million copies in Japan and 25.69 million worldwide.
  • Pokemon Scarlet & Violet’s sales could be boosted further with a performance patch on the Nintendo Switch’s successor.

As a child of the ’90s, I vividly remember the PokeMania craze that swept across the globe, and I was right there with my Red Game Boy and Pokemon Red cartridge, catching them all. Fast forward nearly three decades, and it’s mind-boggling to see how Pokemon Scarlet & Violet have not only matched but surpassed the sales of the original games that captivated me back then.


In a significant shift, the sales figures of the latest releases, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, have surpassed those of the original games, Pokemon Red and Green, within the Pokemon series, marking the first time any entry has managed this feat in Japan.

In the ’90s, the phenomenal popularity of PokeMania catapulted the franchise onto the worldwide stage. However, it found it challenging to replicate that level of success until the release of Pokemon Go reignited curiosity beyond its core followers.

The initial installments in the Pokémon series, Pokémon Red and Green, debuted in Japan back in 1996. Amazingly, these games have remained the top sellers within the franchise for nearly three decades since then.

At last, the sales record set by Kanto has been surpassed. As reported by Famitsu, the new releases Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have outperformed the domestic sales of the original Pokemon Red and Green games, thereby dethroning the long-standing dominance of Generation 1 games in the market.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Somehow Sold Millions Of Copies

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Outsell Gen 1 Games In Japan

In Japan, Pokemon Scarlet & Violet have managed to sell an impressive 8.3 million units. This figure represents a substantial portion of the total 25.69 million copies sold globally since its release.

It’s interesting to note that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet don’t hold the title of the best-selling Pokemon games on the Nintendo Switch yet. Instead, Pokemon Sword and Shield have sold more copies, a total of approximately 26.44 million units.

It’s quite astonishing that Pokemon Scarlet & Violet managed to sell so well, given the somewhat divided critical reviews and consumer feedback.

The games Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have received severe criticism due to technical problems like glitches and poor performance, even though they belong to a globally renowned media franchise; these issues have resulted in some startlingly low frame rates.

There is power in brand names, and Pokemon has done an amazing job building up a loyal fanbase. Despite its issues, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet still attracted a lot of eyeballs.

There’s still an opportunity for Pokemon Scarlet & Violet to boost its earnings, given that a new Nintendo Switch model is approaching on the horizon. A timely update or free upgrade addressing the current problems could serve as a perfect solution.

If the new Switch 2 resolves issues that were previously unmanageable with the initial hardware, it could potentially boost the sales of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, further increasing their lead over Pokemon Red & Green.

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2024-11-18 21:08