Credit: The Pokémon Company/Nintendo
There are no breaks on the Pokémon train.
In spite of a myriad of controversies and longtime fan outcry, it seems the eternal franchising juggernaut that is Pokémon simply cannot be stopped. I’d say I’m surprised, but that would be a lie.
The new Pokémon game for the Switch, Pokémon Sword and Shield, has sold over 6 million copies worldwide in less than a week since its release. About a third of those sales were from North America in the first weekend after release, if you were curious. Not only is this an impressive launch in general, it’s also record-setting; Sword and Shield have set a new record for highest week-one sales out of any Nintendo Switch game released so far, which means it’s the fastest selling Switch game to date.
The game’s success has put quite a financial feather in Nintendo’s cap. Many collectors buy both versions of a new Pokémon game, even if they only intend to play one. Not only that, but the release of Sword and Shield also prompted a new surge of Switch console sales all over the world. Japan alone sold 180,000 Switch units in Sword and Shield‘s release week. As is often the case, if there’s any game series that has the power to push consoles with its own might, it’s Pokémon. Now we just have to wait for the inevitable third version or direct sequel.
