Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen: impressive sales figures on Switch
Intelligence Summary
- Nintendo’s Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen sell more than 4 million copies in six weeks, despite pricing criticism.
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen post strong sales on Switch
Nintendo has recently revealed the impressive sales results for the Game Boy Advance titles Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, which launched on the eShop at $20 each. In just six weeks, these retro games have sold more than 4 million copies combined, generating roughly $80 million in revenue. That came despite controversy around the pricing and Nintendo’s decision to release them this way.
Sales results and strategy
The strong sales numbers for Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen are especially notable given the negative reaction to Nintendo’s pricing model. The choice to sell these titles separately, rather than add them to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, has been a major strategic decision that did not go over well with everyone. Even so, the games have proven hugely popular, showing that demand for nostalgic titles remains high.
Original sales figures
It’s also worth looking at the original sales figures for the Game Boy Advance releases. Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, which launched 22 years ago, have sold around 12 million copies in total. That means the re-releases have already accounted for roughly a third of the originals’ lifetime sales in just six weeks. It’s another sign of the Pokémon franchise’s lasting appeal.
Controversies and reactions
Alongside the impressive sales, Nintendo has also faced criticism over several aspects of the re-release. Players have complained about censorship, and the new version includes a profanity filter for offensive language. This was reportedly done because of the ability to transfer Pokémon to Pokémon Home and the newly launched Champions. While some players see the change as unnecessary, others have welcomed the bug fixes and other tweaks that improve the games.
Timeline
2026-05-08: Nintendo reports that the Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen re-releases sold more than 4 million copies in six weeks.
2026-05-08: Despite complaints about pricing, Nintendo defends the decision as a celebration of Pokémon’s 30th anniversary.
2026-02: Nintendo announces the Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen re-release as a surprise move ahead of their eShop launch.
The sales results for Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen show that there is still strong demand for nostalgic franchises in the gaming industry. Nintendo’s decision to sell the games separately appears to have been a lucrative one, despite the various controversies and criticism from part of the player community. With these numbers in mind, it will be interesting to speculate about possible future releases of other classic titles, such as Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald.
