Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl have been the tentpole Switch releases for the Holiday shopping season, with early sales data in countries like Japan and the UK pointing to positive results. Now it's been reported by Gamebiz.jp that the releases passed six million sales globally in their launch week, which is hugely impressive.
As a broad number that's in the same ballpark as Sword and Shield's equivalent results, which suggests that the remakes have held a similar appeal to the previous new-gen releases. That's notable, considering that this figure is a good bit above (about double) the equivalent launch sales for Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.
It speaks to the continuing momentum around Pokémon, and the sales are particularly notable when you consider the pre-launch leaks around the game, while it received somewhat mixed reviews in the press. Ultimately the combination of the brand, remaking a popular generation, and of course the continuing popularity of the Switch, have helped to deliver another big hit.
There'll be more official updates in the coming weeks, of course, so we'll see how the sales numbers progress.
[source gamebiz.jp]
Comments 60
Good news all round. I haven't played them yet but my friend showed me some stuff on the OST, it's phenomenal
These games feel more like HD remasters than full remakes. They're not bad. In fact, Brilliant Diamond feels whimsical and quaint. But I definitely regret spending the full $60 on it.
@Anti-Matter It is funny how the complainers about the haters of BDSP are always more than the actual haters Even before there are actually any haters here!
Considering the reception has been mixed about these games I don't know if that is the message we want to send to Nintendo, but as long as people who did buy it are enjoying the game that's all that really matters, that's what gaming is all about, having fun at the end of the day.
@Dpishere I think at some point people need to understand that they don't like Pokemon anymore and move on. Clearly the bigger market doesn't care about whatever issues they might have with the franchise.
At the same time, some of the requests are so trivial to implement that it feels ridiculous not to have them, like difficulty levels and exp. share toggles.
Hey, people really wanted these Gen 4 remakes. Pokemon is like eating comfort food, it's not always the best but you know its never going to be bad
@Meteoroid That is not surprising as Pokemon is loved franchise, but it is surprising when there are zero haters and people complain that there are and they are "coming"
@Anti-Matter In before you spout some more terrible opinions and mention DDR.
I've been having a lot of fun with Brilliant Diamond. ^_^
@Rob3008
Get outta my way.
no surprise at all, these are classics.
I mean, what can I say, I love these games! as someone who has never played this before, there amazing! But if you have, this wont give you anything to come back to, Let alone even be worth your 60$.
@Zuljaras That's less of a complaint about haters and more just a prediction of them. Which wound up being proven true even now, because it's practically a compulsion at this point.
In regards to Pokemon, it'd be way more surprising if we made it through an entire article/thread without someone lamenting its success (not that they arent allowed to complain).
Nintendo "fans" will buy anything because of nostalgia, and then complain about declining quality of games. These remakes are lazy as Slakoth and buying them is sending a message to Nintendo and Game Freak that they are doing a good job. But they don't.
I'm glad. These are the best Pokemon games on Switch. Let's Go was gimmicky crap and Sword/Shield were disappointing. I also love the 2D visual style of Diamond/Pearl. Highly recommended
@Snatcher This. If you haven't played DPPt you are in for a treat since DPPt were very good games and BDSP are (for the most part) 1 to 1 remakes of DP and therefore also very good. But if you have played DPPt there isn't too much new beside being DP in HD
Biggest launch week sell-through for a Switch game:
1) Animal Crossing New Horizons: ~7 million
2) Pokemon Sword/Shield: 6 million
2) Pokemon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl: 6 million
4) Super Smash Bros Ultimate: 5 million
5) Monster Hunter Rise: 4 million
6) Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee: 3 million
7) Super Mario Odyssey: 2+ million
Exact numbers were not provided for the launch sales other Switch titles.
ILCA laughing all the way to the bank.
I like how people "should vote with their wallets" until it doesn't support someone's narrative then it's "sending a bad message".
these games are something that needs to be experienced to be fully enjoyed
I'm willing to bet that digital sales here are much higher then the digital sales of Sword and Shield given that was released BEFORE you could share games over your Nintendo account and the only way to play on more the one system was to have a physical copy.
It's not 100% clear if the numbers include digital given the sources is quoted as being Nintendo internal analytics, but sale numbers almost always are physical only. If that's the case, then this is likely vastly outselling Sword / Shield.
I’m still playing SMT V. I am kind of stuck on the demon king castle. Once I beat this wonderful game I am going to pick up Diamond because I had Pearl back in the day. I remember getting it used at GameStop and it had all the Legendaries on it. I got Platinum and transferred them on it. Is it nostalgia that makes me want this game? Maybe, but I can look past the Chibi and the Vanilla story and enjoy my addiction to catch them all.
@Nico85 Yeah, you're probably right...
Oh joy, more reason for them to never try with pokemon once again...
@Zuljaras Exactly THIS
I have seen so many topics on reddit about BDSP but even other non PKMN games, and most ranting I found there was of people that started to rant about ranting.
Oh well
I finished the game... and found it good enough.
It felt like the original for the most part, I just didn't like the graphics that much (they actually make the game look worse than S&S or even all of the 3DS games) + I hoped for more content like in HGSS and ORAS.
Other nitpicks like the Pokédex aside, the games were just as fun like the originals were (minus Platinum), so BDSP was solid enough for me.
But it lowers my expectations (in a negative way) for Black & White remakes we probably will ever get someday, point is BDSP was for 99% fine but the graphical charm of the originals was gone here, B&W has even more unique graphics style so I hope they don't go with another chibi look by then.
However I guess we can expect such remakes at earliest in 2026/2027 lol.
@Elanczewski you would be surprised how many parents I see buy these games because it's Pokémon, and most of them don't even know these are remakes...
Like I always say, if you make a great quality game, IT WILL SELL. SORRY HATERS, YOU LOST! And real gamers win! I love these games, they are some of the best pokemon games ever. Great job Nintendo , keep on pumping out those great games and gamers are just going to continue to reap in the rewards.
Glad those games were successful but I hope they don't take 'it's ok to ship an unfinished product' as a lesson here.
@Elanczewski "I'm" a Nintendo "fan" and I didn't "buy" "it".
@River3636 Is it the difficulty of the battles in the Demon Castle or just the sheer bizarre navigation of it? Because I had a horrid time trying to figure out where I was going.
@PessitheMystic It’s those bloody wind breezes. It doesn’t seem that it’s hard it’s just annoying. If you make a mistake you have to go all the way back and then that makes you memorize it. The update fix the camera angle and it made it easier. I’m still on the third Stratham and it’s so annoying.I got past the first wind part which took me like an hour. You can’t even save so I just have it on sleep mode.
@Mauzuri Oh I couldn't care less about the games. Just annoys me to see pokemon put out such subpar titles and have them sell gangbusters. Thats literally it. They could make them with such quality but they just choose not to. I've grown to accept that the quality that they should be striving for (given they are the most profitable media franchise ever and all that) is never gonna happen. I just express my irks with it from time to time. Pokemon fans will buy up anything they put out.
This is just another benefit of unifying Nintendo's library of home and handheld games. Nothing short of obvious success.
It is funny (also a bit sad) how some seem to want to gratify their own purchase of a game by it selling well. Something selling well does not disprove valid criticism.
The GTA trilogy was the 4th best selling game in the eshop of November, while it released in a buggy almost unplayable state. Cyberpunk 2077 sold at least 13 million copies, FIFA and COD will also sell millions regardless. Does that mean that those games were phenomenal without any problems? Absolutely not.
My point is some series are too big to fail regardless of the product that they produce. Pokémon will obviously sell well, it is the biggest multimedia franchise of the world.
Still playing as SMT V is getting in the way but i'm enjoying the remake, sure it could have been better but its good enough for me and a nice return to more of the pre-3DS era.
@Zuljaras That's because there's so few haters lol
That is already six million+ that don’t care about exp share, Chibi art, or that it’s not a port of Platinum that vocal minority always complaints about in a BDSP article/thread
Just because a bunch of casuals buy a brain-dead, watered down remake of a Pokemon game (or any game for that matter), that doesn't make it a good game. That's especially true considering the fact that Pokemon fans are willing to buy anything.
@Zuljaras
@MajorTom
Thank you! People like you prove there's still hope for the Nintendolife community.
@River3636 Oh yeah, I remember the save points being pretty spaced out too. I just rushed through it in one sitting last night, but wasn't exactly enjoyable.
I feel like the map could also do with floors or layers or something sometimes too, rather than having crammed on top of each other. But I'm loving it, I think it's a class game.
@Luffymcduck Thanks you.
I myself am pretty neutral about these remakes, but try to think rationally in general.
@PessitheMystic it’s a phenomenal game. I just have to buck up and figure it out. That’s the only flaw I see in the game and I don’t even think it’s a flaw. I’m all for puzzles but I can do without this one. I heard there’s a final Dungeon that has similar gameplay. I just want to get back to the story and demon fusion. This for me is my game of the year. Great Game. 9/10.
@MajorTom
Pokemon selling well is not a surprise to anyone not living in a cave.
Pokemon remake selling on par with a new generation entry at launch is the bigger surprise.
@River3636 Actually it's probably my GOTY too in fact. I adored Metroid but ultimately felt it was just a little on the short side. I haven't played a game this year where I've wanted to put as much time into as I have with SMTV. Glad critics have agreed and that it actually broke into the sales charts in the UK at least!
@PessitheMystic I like Metroid, I did like the four days it took me to beat it too. I would probably go back to Metroid in a few years with SMTV , I could see myself going for multiple endings and spending more time with it, getting the DLC etc.
@Zuljaras The only complain that I have is about fans hating on the game yet being the first to buy it.
Its funny how insecure people here can be; they have a constant need to bring up sales to validate their purchase looking at the comments above.
A lot of people really seemed to like these games. And that's good.
@HeadPirate This definitely includes digital. Why wouldn't it?
Good for Ilca!
I bought mine day 1and although they have problems, this game is as beautiful as my nostalgia remember it
@iLikeUrAttitude it’s more hilarious that a specific niche of people blow out of proportions how “terrible” a game is and show how out of touch they are in the end. Happened back when Sword/Shield dropped and happened again here.
@Arawn93 No, if anything that just proves the point that the games will sell well regardless of quality.
@iLikeUrAttitude Not really. Games sell good or bad all the time regardless of self perceived sense of “quality”
@Arawn93 You basically just agreed with me so I'm just going to reiterate; pokemon games will sell well regardless of quality because its the highest grossing franchise of all time saying otherwise is just being delusional.
@iLikeUrAttitude Not really. That can be applied to any game because each consumer has their own perceived sense of “quality”. Also there has been Pokémon spin-off flops so the whole “everyone just buys Pokémon regardless!” has been debunked years ago
It’s an objective fact that 6 million+ see Pokémon BDSP as high enough perceived “quality” that was worth their purchase which is what matters at end of day
@Arawn93 Yes really, we're talking about the highest grossing media franchise in the world, it can't be applied to just "any game". Only a handful reach close to the brand awareness that pokemon does or influence.
Your idea of a flop probably means it only sold a couple million instead of around 5 or more.
Nothing you mentioned is objective in any sense since quality itself is subjective and sales don't indicate quality in the first place which you keep failing to understand, you even contradicted yourself because your logic is so ridiculous.
@Meteoroid I love how you only focus on one of the four games that I give as an example and ignore the other three games, to get your own narrative. It is as if those other examples disprove your point so you won't mention them
Cyberpunk obviously was the most controversial of the games I mentioned. The GTA trilogy is also having its controversies but I doubt the fans will stop buying Rockstar games when a new GTA releases. The most comparable to Pokémon from the examples I mentioned are FIFA and COD which have decent, but not exactly good releases every year. These games will sell regardless every year while some versions change some small aspects. FIFA mainly only changes its rooster every year and is riddled with lootboxes but it still sells every year on its name alone. This is what happens to Pokémon. Selling well even if the quality is the bare minimum. This is exactly what I meant with some franchises are too big to fail.
I honestly don't think the Pokémon games are bad, but I do not consider the recent games worth a purchase. The games just are the bare minimum for them to sell. BDSP are likely fun for newcomers to the games, however I will not consider them worth €60 if you compare it to many of the recent competing remakes where most had more to offer for a lower price.
So let's face it. While Pokémon games aren't bad they are pretty much a yearly cash-cow such as FIFA. They will sell them full-price since they are from the Pokémon franchise. Many comparable RPGs got a lot more to offer such as DQ XI, Shin Megami Tensei V and Yakuza 7, but they will sell less since they are not riding on their name as Pokémon.
@Meteoroid Yep you are certainly correct, Pokémon is more like the comfort food as you mentioned.
SMT is not as accessible like you mentioned, however the Dragon Quest series can be compared in accessibility to Pokémon. In Japan it always is a big event when a new one releases for both young and old, but it never got that recognition in the West. Still that series keeps evolving and I consider DQ XI one of the best RPGs at the moment. I would have liked if Pokémon also makes such a leap. Legends of Arceus seems like a step in the right direction and I will likely give that game a try.
@iLikeUrAttitude You can't really know whether Pokemon sells regardless of quality because the sales of the games have varied over the years.
Mario is up there with Pokemon but it had a pretty big dip around the millennium. Then revived after they changed tack after NSMB pushed it far past Pokemon (in game sales on the same system. Ruby/Sapphire was selling triple the best selling Mario on GBA).
Id say there's a a combination of both game design conditions and quality expectations people are buying these games for which are being fulfilled.
Pokemon would crumble if they did break players expectations or produced a truly bad game.
@Dr_Lugae You easily can looking at the sales of the games always consistently selling well. And the newer entries also selling well despite not being the most well received, especially Lets Go, Sword and Shield, and BDSP. Sword and Shield despite all its controversy and callouts for lazy design managed to be one of the best selling pokemon games of all time now.
And due to the IP only growing in popularity so much that it transcends gaming itself. Pokemon Go would be an example of it.
Well NSMB did vastly outsell every game on the ds by a pretty significant margin with 30mil copies sold but I would say its just as impressive as pokemon consistently selling in the double digit millions for every single one of its pokemon games.
Not to mention the ds is the only example of Mario outselling pokemon on a console, at least by that significant of a margin on the gameboy and gameboy advance pokemon is number 1 selling. And on the 3ds the best selling game is Mario Kart 7 but in 2nd place is also pokemon being behind only by around 3 million.
And lastly on the switch pokemon has now surpassed mario in sales. Albeit slightly but it still proves my point even more.
I'll just say its a combinations of things I already stated above and in previous comments.
Dr_Lugae wrote:
I'm sorry but you can't possibly be serious with this statement.
I think a lot of people here including you fail to understand how big of an influence pokemon has. It could release one of the worst games next year and the brand would still perfectly remain in tact.
Furthermore, pokemon doesn't even get most of its profits from its games anymore, not even half. 75% of the revenue comes from the merchandise.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_media_franchises
And even then we we're talking about the games Pokemon Go made more profit than every single pokemon game, some even combined.
Saying the highest grossing franchise in the world would crumble just cause it would make one bad game is laughably sad.
@Anti-Matter Someone who cares more about gameplay than graphics.
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