The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Achieves Second-Largest 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 GfK, it is also Nintendo's second-biggest release in UK history in terms of revenue, surpassed only by Wii Fit in 2008. However, if the Balance Board price is excluded, it becomes the largest Nintendo release by revenue. In terms of units sold, the game trails behind Wii Fit and combined Pokémon sales, specifically the combined sales of Sun and Moon, and Scarlet and Violet. Its opening week sales have exceeded those of Hogwarts Legacy by over 50%, although this figure only accounts for boxed sales. As Switch digital sales are typically lower than those on other platforms, it is unclear whether the game has outsold Hogwarts overall, due to Nintendo's policy of not sharing digital data with chart companies. The game's launch has been the most successful in Zelda history, with sales more than 2.7 times higher than those of Breath of the Wild in 2017. It has already become the eighth-best-selling Zelda game of all time, surpassing Skyward Sword and The Wind Waker. In terms of revenue, it ranks as the fourth-best-selling Zelda game, behind Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, and Breath of the Wild. While it is not the largest Switch launch, its opening week sales were only 12% lower than those of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. However, in terms of revenue, Zelda has become the largest Switch release, with an 8% increase over Scarlet and Violet, partly due to the popularity of a limited edition priced over £100. The success of Tears of the Kingdom has also boosted sales of its predecessor, Breath of the Wild, which saw a 31% increase in boxed sales and now ranks eighth in the charts. TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 is the only other new game in the charts, debuting at number 31. Hogwarts Legacy, which previously held the top spot, has dropped to second place with a 68% decline in sales, while Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order has fallen to third place with a 50% decrease in sales. FIFA 23 has risen to fourth place with a 43% increase in sales, and Mario Kart 8: Deluxe has dropped to fifth place with flat sales. Dead Island 2 has fallen three places to sixth with a 51% decline in sales.