The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Achieves Second-Biggest Nintendo Launch in UK History

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has secured the largest boxed video game launch of the year in the UK, according to recent data. GfK reports that the game is Nintendo's second-biggest release in UK history in terms of revenue, with the only exception being 2008's Wii Fit. If the Balance Board price is excluded, it becomes the biggest Nintendo release by revenue. In terms of units sold, the game trails behind Wii Fit and combined sales of Pokémon games, specifically Sun and Moon, and Scarlet and Violet. The game's opening week sales have surpassed those of Hogwarts Legacy by over 50%, although it's essential to note that this figure only accounts for boxed sales. Hogwarts Legacy, which was released on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S and X in February, had a strong digital launch, but Switch digital sales are typically lower than other platforms, making it challenging to determine if the game outsold Hogwarts overall, as Nintendo does not share digital data with chart companies. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has become the biggest Zelda launch in history, selling over 2.7 times the opening week sales of Breath of the Wild from 2017. It has already become the eighth-biggest Zelda game of all time, surpassing 2011's Skyward Sword on Wii and 2003's The Wind Waker on GameCube. In terms of revenue, it is the fourth-biggest Zelda game of all time, behind 1998's Ocarina of Time, 2006's Twilight Princess, and Breath of the Wild. Although it is not the biggest Switch launch of all time, it comes close, with opening week sales 12% lower than last year's Pokémon Scarlet and Violet release. However, in terms of revenue, Zelda is the biggest Switch release ever, with revenue up 8% over Scarlet and Violet, partly due to a popular limited edition of Tears of the Kingdom priced over £100. The game's popularity has also boosted its predecessor, Breath of the Wild, which saw a 31% increase in boxed sales week-on-week and is currently at No.8 in the charts. Outside of Zelda, TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 is the only other new game in the charts, managing No.31 in the boxed charts. Hogwarts Legacy, which was at No.1 last week, dropped to No.2 with a 68% sales drop week-on-week, while Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order dropped to No.3 with sales down 50% week-on-week. FIFA 23 rose to No.4 with sales increasing 43%, and Mario Kart 8: Deluxe dropped to No.5 with flat sales week-on-week. Dead Island 2 fell three places to No.6 with sales down 51% week-on-week. The GfK UK Boxed Top Ten for the week ending May 13, 2023, reflects these changes in the gaming landscape.