Scarlet/Violet Sales Soar Despite Mixed Reviews

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have emerged as some of the best-selling titles in the Pokémon franchise, a testament to their widespread appeal among fans. According to Joe Merrick, the webmaster of Serebii.net, as reported by Eurogamer, these games have collectively sold over 25 million copies. This figure places them just above Pokémon Sword and Shield, which have sold 26,720,000 units, and positions Scarlet and Violet as the second best-selling Pokémon games since the original Red/Green/Blue, which sold an impressive 31.4 million copies upon its release in 1996 on the Game Boy.

Rounding out the top five best-selling Pokémon games, Gold/Silver and Diamond/Pearl have sold 23.7 million and 16.7 million copies, respectively. This impressive sales performance showcases the enduring popularity of the Pokémon series.

Despite their commercial success, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet received a mixed reception at launch. Critics and fans alike noted numerous technical issues, performance problems, and bugs, leading to mainly mixed or average scores. In IGN's review of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the game was rated a 6/10, with the review stating, "The open-world gameplay of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is a brilliant direction for the future of the franchise, but this promising shift is sabotaged by the numerous ways in which Scarlet and Violet feel deeply unfinished."

Looking ahead, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is slated for release later this year. Set in Lumiose City, the game introduces an urban redevelopment plan aimed at creating a harmonious environment for both people and Pokémon. Excitement for the game was tempered by a leak last October, which shared unknown information about several Pokémon titles, including Legends Z-A. In response, Nintendo has taken legal action, issuing a subpoena to Discord to identify the individual behind the "TeraLeak."