
Scarlet and Violet Soar as Top-Selling Pokémon Games Despite Issues
May 08, 2025 10:22 AMPokémon Scarlet and Violet have become monumental successes in the Pokémon franchise, selling 26.79 million copies and making them the best-selling Pokémon games since the original Red/Green/Blue. Despite extensive criticism regarding technical issues, including poor graphics and bugs, the games made a record-breaking debut by selling 10 million copies within three days. Fans have expressed disappointment about the technical quality compared to previous titles like Legends: Arceus, prompting Nintendo to acknowledge the issues and promise improvements. Looking ahead, the franchise is gearing up for a significant launch with Pokémon Legends: ZA in 2025 and its 30th anniversary in 2026.
What are Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's sales figures?Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have sold a combined total of 26.79 million copies, making them the best-selling Pokémon titles since the original games.
Released in November 2022, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet introduced players to an open-world gameplay experience for the first time in the franchise, allowing for a more immersive exploration of the Pokémon world. Despite its technical shortcomings, the games' innovative approach to gameplay has attracted a substantial player base, solidifying their status in Pokémon history. The upcoming release of Pokémon Legends: ZA also hints at continued evolution in the series with new gameplay mechanics set to take advantage of the expected hardware improvements on Nintendo's next console.

Alex Riverton
Alex Riverton is a seasoned journalist with over a decade of experience in the gaming industry. Known for their in-depth analysis and hands-on previews, Alex has built a reputation for insightful commentary on gameplay mechanics and storytelling in videogames.
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It's crazy how Scarlet and Violet's sales prove that even a rough-around-the-edges Pokémon game can dominate—fans just want that open-world magic. Fingers crossed Legends: ZA delivers the technical polish to match its ambitious vision.

Wild how Scarlet and Violet broke records despite the jank—proof that Pokémon fans will endure anything for that sweet open-world nostalgia hit. Here’s hoping Legends: ZA brings both innovation *and* polish to match the hype.