Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Break Sales Records in JapanGen 1 Pokemon Games Dethroned by Scarlet and Violet
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have officially surpassed their predecessors to become the best-selling Pokemon titles in Japan’s history. With a whopping 8.3 million units sold domestically, as first reported by Famitsu, these games dethroned the original Red and Green (known as Red and Blue internationally) after their 28-year reign.
Scarlet and Violet released in 2022 and represented a bold leap forward for the franchise. As the first truly open-world games in the series, they allowed players to freely explore the Paldea region without the linearity of past installments. However, this ambition came at a cost: Launch day saw players complaining about technical hiccups, ranging from graphical glitches to frame rate issues. Despite these hurdles, the games flew off the shelves.
In their first three days on the market, the titles sold over 10 million copies globally, with 4.05 million of those sales coming from Japan alone. This strong start broke several records, including the best launch for a Nintendo Switch game and the best debut for any Nintendo title in Japan, according to The Pokemon Company’s press release back in 2022.
As Pokémon Scarlet and Violet approach record-breaking global sales, their enduring legacy is undeniable. With the potential for increased sales on the backward-compatible Nintendo Switch 2, coupled with ongoing updates, expansions, and events, these games are poised to solidify their place in Pokémon history.
For more information on the event and the best way to capture this majestic dragon, you can check out our guide below!
