Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Achieves Second-Largest Pokémon Launch in History | UK Boxed Sales Rankings

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet has posted impressive launch sales figures in the UK, representing the latest video game to achieve substantial first-week sales. It has secured the position of the largest boxed game launch of the year, with sales in its opening week exceeding those of FIFA 23 by 4%. In terms of units sold, this release is the second-largest Pokémon launch of all time, surpassed only by Pokémon Sun and Moon on the Nintendo 3DS. The success of Sun and Moon was partly driven by the immense popularity of the Pokémon series following the release of Pokémon Go in 2016. According to data from GfK, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet generated higher revenue during its launch week compared to Sun and Moon, attributed to an average selling price of £48 for Scarlet and Violet, compared to £35 for Sun and Moon. The data provided is specific to boxed retail sales, as download figures for Nintendo games are not available. The Violet version accounted for 52% of the sales, while the Scarlet version accounted for 42%, and the double pack featuring both games comprised the remaining 6%. The first-week sales of Scarlet and Violet are 25% higher than those of the previous 'new generation' Pokémon release, Sword and Shield, which launched on the Switch in November 2019. Additionally, the sales are 70% higher than those of last year's Diamond and Pearl remakes and 56% higher than January's Pokémon Legends: Arceus. The launch of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet has also led to an increase in Switch console sales, with GfK reporting a 62% week-on-week rise in Switch hardware sales, primarily driven by the OLED model. This represents the largest week of the year so far for Nintendo Switch console sales. The significant launch of Pokémon follows closely after the substantial release of God of War: Ragnarok on PS4 and PS5. Sony's game has dropped to fourth place, experiencing a 73% decline in sales week-on-week. Last week's other new release, Sonic Frontiers, has fallen from fourth to tenth place due to a 64% decrease in sales. Another new release, The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil In Me, has debuted at number 16, with sales slightly surpassing those of last year's House of Ashes. Furthermore, several PlayStation games have seen increased sales due to pricing promotions at major retailers. The Last of Us Part 2 has re-entered the charts at number 18, following a deal that reduced the game's price below £10. Spider-Man: Miles Morales has re-entered at number 26, with sales rising by 292%, while Gran Turismo 7 is back at number 30, with sales increasing by 228%, and The Last of Us Part 1 has returned at number 38, with sales up by 454%.