As 2026 begins, new sales data confirms that Pokemon Legends: Z-A has achieved an important milestone on Nintendo’s latest hardware. The game has now surpassed one million physical copies sold on the Switch 2 in Japan, marking a strong performance for a cross-generation title on the new system. Despite this success, the game continues to sell even more copies on the original Nintendo Switch, highlighting the enduring popularity of Nintendo’s 2017 console.
Nintendo experienced a turbulent but eventful 2025. The year kicked off with the official reveal of the Switch 2 in January, followed by months of debate over pricing and hardware positioning. The new hybrid console ultimately launched on June 5, led by its first major system seller, Mario Kart World. Since then, additional high-profile releases have arrived on the platform, including Donkey Kong Bananza and Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Unlike Donkey Kong Bananza, which is exclusive to Switch 2, Pokemon Legends: Z-A launched as a cross-gen title, prompting interest in how its sales would be divided between the two systems.
According to Famitsu’s estimated physical software and hardware sales for Japan during the final full week of 2025 (December 22–28), Pokemon Legends: Z-A crossed the one-million mark on Switch 2. Lifetime physical sales on the system now stand at 1,004,154 units, with 46,868 copies sold during that single week. However, the game is still performing better on the original Switch, where it has reached 1,529,823 lifetime sales, including 59,469 units sold during the same period.
Top 10 Best-Selling Physical Games in Japan (December 22–28, 2025)
- Mario Kart World (Switch 2) – 94,645 weekly / 2,668,381 total
- Pokemon Legends: Z-A (Switch) – 59,469 weekly / 1,529,823 total
- Kirby Air Riders (Switch 2) – 47,793 weekly / 424,837 total
- Pokemon Legends: Z-A (Switch 2) – 46,868 weekly / 1,004,154 total
- Momotaro Dentetsu 2 (Switch) – 32,649 weekly / 232,554 total
- Momotaro Dentetsu 2 – Switch 2 Edition – 30,154 weekly / 188,535 total
- Donkey Kong Bananza (Switch 2) – 15,258 weekly / 435,206 total
- Minecraft (Switch) – 14,985 weekly / 4,109,192 total
- Super Mario Party Jamboree – Switch 2 Edition – 14,808 weekly / 126,436 total
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch) – 13,839 weekly / 8,311,118 total
The stronger performance of Pokemon Legends: Z-A on the original Switch is not particularly surprising. The console has sold over 154 million units worldwide, giving it a massive installed base. Still, the Switch 2 version could potentially close the gap over time. The new console has already surpassed 10 million units sold globally, and continued growth could lead more players to experience the game on newer hardware.
The Switch 2 Edition of Pokemon Legends: Z-A benefits from improved visuals and enhanced performance, thanks to the more powerful system. These upgrades may entice some players to opt for the newer version, though its $10 higher price point could discourage others from making the jump.
While Pokemon Legends: Z-A achieved an impressive sales milestone, it did not top the charts during the final week of 2025. That honor once again went to Mario Kart World, which sold an additional 94,645 copies in Japan, bringing its lifetime regional sales to 2,668,381 units. The Switch 2 exclusive has now sold more than 9.57 million copies worldwide. Kirby Air Riders, another Switch 2 exclusive, placed third for the week with 47,793 units sold. Meanwhile, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which launched on December 4, failed to crack the top 10—though the series has historically struggled in the Japanese market.
On the hardware side, the Switch 2 dominated Japanese sales during the same week, moving 200,257 units and bringing its lifetime total in the country to 3,784,067. The Switch OLED Model followed far behind, while the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition placed third.
Best-Selling Consoles in Japan (December 22–28, 2025)
- Switch 2 – 200,257 weekly / 3,784,067 total
- Switch OLED Model – 14,004 weekly / 9,397,922 total
- PS5 Digital Edition – 13,587 weekly / 1,117,528 total
- Switch Lite – 11,776 weekly / 6,804,465 total
- Switch – 6,995 weekly / 20,213,756 total
Looking ahead, it remains to be seen how Pokemon Legends: Z-A will perform throughout 2026. The release of the Mega Dimension DLC on December 10, 2025 introduced new Mega Evolutions and an additional story campaign, helping to renew interest in the game. While critical reception has generally been positive, some fans have expressed concerns about performance and presentation.
Although total worldwide sales have not been fully updated, Pokemon Legends: Z-A sold over 5.8 million units in its first week alone. Given its strong debut and continued support, the game is well-positioned to maintain steady sales, particularly as more players adopt the Switch 2 in the months ahead.
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