Pokémon Sword & Shield were released at the end of 2019, but they are still selling strong around the world.
Pokémon Sword & Shield were released amidst several controversies and concerns about their quality, but these did little to diminish the enthusiasm for the games, partly due to the desire for a console Pokémon experience. According to the most recent figures released by Nintendo, Pokémon Sword & Shield have sold over sixteen million units worldwide, which is an incredible figure when you consider that they have only been available for a few months.
The love for Pokémon Sword & Shield in Japan has not diminished since launch. According to GamesIndustry.biz, Pokémon Sword & Shield were the third best-selling games in the country throughout February, with an additional 95,000 units shipped.
Pokémon Sword & Shield were only beaten out by Granblue Fantasy Versus and the PlayStation 4 port of Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers. The Nintendo Switch version of Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers was ranked sixth on the list, though this makes sense, considering that Persona 5 has only been released on PlayStation systems and the Nintendo audience has only been exposed to the game through Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth and Joker's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
The increasing sales of Pokémon Sword & Shield suggest that it will soon topple both The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey in terms of best-selling Switch games, as it seems likely that the game will break seventeen million sales soon. The real challenge comes in the form of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and its 17.68 million sales, as well as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and its staggering 22.96 million sales. Pokémon Sword & Shield are due to receive significant DLC updates in the form of the Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra, so it's possible that the Galar region could help the Pokémon franchise overtake Mario Kart as the best-selling titles on the Nintendo Switch.
Pokémon Sword & Shield are available now for Nintendo Switch.
Source: GamesIndustry.biz