Pokemon Legends: Arceus is the first big hit title of the gaming world in 2022, and lots of gamers are taking their first steps into the Hisui region. If the buzz on social media wasn't already an indicator of how many copies Pokemon Legends: Arceus has sold, then Nintendo has official sales data now for the game just under a week in.
Set a thousand years before the events of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl or Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Pokemon Legends: Arceus has players exploring the Hisui region, an area that would later be called the Sinnoh region in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl. As a member of the Survey Corps of the Galaxy Team, players are recruited into the team to help create the region's first Pokedex.
Famitsu has reported that Nintendo has sold 1.425 million copies of Pokemon Legends: Arceus in the last week since its release. This news was translated into English by Twitter user Nibellion. They reported that the 1.425 million copies sold is the second-best opening week for a Nintendo Switch title, being the runner-up only to Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This means that it has beat out other major Switch titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and fellow Pokemon titles Pokemon Sword and Shield.
Even based off initial sales data, it was already obvious that Pokemon Legends: Arceus was going to sell big. Pre-orders for the game broke sales records, and it was at the top of Amazon's bestsellers list for video games in the month of January. The game was trending on Twitter on its release weekend as players began their exploration of the Hisui region.
Pokemon games tend to sell in the tens of millions if they're a part of the mainline series, and with a start this strong, Pokemon Legends: Arceus could very well hit that milestone. Reception for Pokemon Legends: Arceus is mostly positive, so positive word of mouth might help sell people that are currently on the fence.
Some online have continuously argued about Pokemon Legends: Arceus' graphics even as the game has captivated so many, so it won't be universally accepted. However, this kind of bold change for the series felt necessary in some ways to give the series a fresh new perspective after 25 years. If momentum can carry Pokemon Legends: Arceus forward, it could end up being the Switch's top-selling titles.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is available now exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.