Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, the highly anticipated entries in the iconic Pokémon franchise, have made an impressive mark ahead of their worldwide release for the Nintendo 3DS on October 12th.
Reports from Japanese retailers confirm that both versions have completely sold out, a trend echoed in the United Kingdom, signaling strong demand and an extremely favorable performance in western markets. Nintendo UK’s marketing director, Shelly Pearce, recently offered insight into the franchise's momentum, revealing that pre-orders for Pokémon X and Y "are outpacing the levels we saw with Black and White," referencing the previous mainline releases.
Pearce emphasized the achievement by noting that even Pokémon White by itself ranked as the second fastest-selling DS title across the UK, trailing only behind Professor Layton and Pandora’s Box.
When combined, Pokémon Black and White represented not only Nintendo's third largest game launch in the region, but also delivered the Pokémon series its best opening weekend sales in UK history. Pearce further highlighted how the Nintendo 3DS has benefited from this momentum.
"3DS has been the highest-selling console throughout the summer," she stated in a recent interview with MCV.
"We've seen sustained growth, which is fantastic.
This momentum, driven by cornerstone franchises like Pokémon, is likely to ensure the 3DS leads hardware sales during the peak season." Nintendo UK's strategy has also placed emphasis on reaching new audiences.
"While many fans have followed Pokémon for years, we recognize a new generation—particularly young boys who were not present for the franchise’s earlier popularity—are discovering Pokémon for the first time," Pearce explained.
"Our team has focused on educational efforts to introduce newcomers to what makes Pokémon special." Regarding launch expectations, Pearce remarked, "Pre-orders are tracking even higher than they were with Black and White, and we anticipate continued growth as we approach and move beyond release." Pokémon X and Pokémon Y’s global debut is set to be a watershed moment for the Nintendo 3DS platform, consolidating its position as the leading handheld console and further affirming the Pokémon series’ unmatched appeal among both veteran and new players alike.
Reports from Japanese retailers confirm that both versions have completely sold out, a trend echoed in the United Kingdom, signaling strong demand and an extremely favorable performance in western markets. Nintendo UK’s marketing director, Shelly Pearce, recently offered insight into the franchise's momentum, revealing that pre-orders for Pokémon X and Y "are outpacing the levels we saw with Black and White," referencing the previous mainline releases.
Pearce emphasized the achievement by noting that even Pokémon White by itself ranked as the second fastest-selling DS title across the UK, trailing only behind Professor Layton and Pandora’s Box.
When combined, Pokémon Black and White represented not only Nintendo's third largest game launch in the region, but also delivered the Pokémon series its best opening weekend sales in UK history. Pearce further highlighted how the Nintendo 3DS has benefited from this momentum.
"3DS has been the highest-selling console throughout the summer," she stated in a recent interview with MCV.
"We've seen sustained growth, which is fantastic.
This momentum, driven by cornerstone franchises like Pokémon, is likely to ensure the 3DS leads hardware sales during the peak season." Nintendo UK's strategy has also placed emphasis on reaching new audiences.
"While many fans have followed Pokémon for years, we recognize a new generation—particularly young boys who were not present for the franchise’s earlier popularity—are discovering Pokémon for the first time," Pearce explained.
"Our team has focused on educational efforts to introduce newcomers to what makes Pokémon special." Regarding launch expectations, Pearce remarked, "Pre-orders are tracking even higher than they were with Black and White, and we anticipate continued growth as we approach and move beyond release." Pokémon X and Pokémon Y’s global debut is set to be a watershed moment for the Nintendo 3DS platform, consolidating its position as the leading handheld console and further affirming the Pokémon series’ unmatched appeal among both veteran and new players alike.
