The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - 10 Million Units Sold in Three Days

[T0@st]

Nintendo has proudly announced that the latest entry in its long running Legend of Zelda series (dating back to 1986) has already hit remarkable sales figures only a few days post the official launch date - Friday May 12. Yesterday's tweet from the company's North American branch stated: "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has sold over 10 million copies worldwide in its first three days, becoming the fastest-selling game in the history of the Legend of Zelda series. Thanks to those already enjoying Link's latest adventure!" Nintendo has also revealed that their exclusive open world adventure was the fastest-selling game in Europe for the Switch platform. Various news outlets have also pointed out that Tears of the Kingdom is now the fastest-selling Nintendo game (on any system) in the EU trading region.

The preceding game - Breath of the Wild - was released on both Nintendo Switch and Wii U consoles back in 2017, and has since amassed close to a total of 30 million unit sales (referring to Statista data). According to a report published by GamesIndustry.biz Tears of the Kingdom has become 2023's biggest physical video-game launch in the United Kingdom. BBC UK News reached Piers Harding-Rolls (Research Director at Ampere Analysis) for comment - he said: "The huge opening sales of the latest Zelda places it amongst the biggest paid-for games ever released...With estimated gross sales of well over $600 million (£480 million), this title is comparable to some of the best-ever launches but falls a little short of the very biggest - for example, Grand Theft Auto V delivered over $1 billion in sales in its three-day launch window...Zelda has always been a beloved franchise for Nintendo fans but the success of the Switch console and the reinvention of the franchise into an open-world experience has transformed its appeal."



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[Space Lynx]

700,000,000 million dollars in sells. still not as good as call of duty which broke a billion in one week a few years ago.

now I understand why Sony was so scared of losing CoD on its Playstation platform

 

[oxrufiioxo]

700,000,000 million dollars in sells. still not as good as call of duty which broke a billion in one week a few years ago.

now I understand why Sony was so scared of losing CoD on its Playstation platform

Not overly comparable as COD ships on every platform other than Switch vs Zelda only being available on Switch.

If Activision shipped call of duty only on switch it wouldn't sell 1/4 this lol.

 

[dj-electric]

700,000,000 million dollars in sells. still not as good as call of duty which broke a billion in one week a few years ago.

now I understand why Sony was so scared of losing CoD on its Playstation platform

You are correct about the first part.
That said, Zelda and games like it has always had very healthy sales retention after first week

 

[RegaeRevaeb]

Not overly comparable as COD ships on every platform other than Switch vs Zelda only being available on Switch.

If Activision shipped call of duty only on switch it wouldn't sell 1/4 this lol.

Now imagine if Nintendo put Zelda, for example, on offer to other platforms. Yes, I know it's about pushing its hardware with a closed ecosystem, but I did just say "imagine".

Not everyone can buy a PlayStation, and an Xbox, and a Nintendo whatever all together just to get all the exclusives, of course; the gaming world would just be a better place if games weren't stuck behind hardware walls. Me thinks that's why a lot of us dig our PC gaming (despite arguably... interesting... port jobs)

 

[Vayra86]

These results prove gaming is about the game and not the graphics. Every time.

 

[oxrufiioxo]

These results prove gaming is about the game and not the graphics. Every time.

Nintendo games are kinda unique though.... And even when they are shit like the recent open world Pokemon game they still sell well lol.

 

[trsttte]

These results prove gaming is about the game and not the graphics. Every time.

True but the game still looks like shit. I don't really get the appeal but I don't buy into the nintendo hive mind

 

[evernessince]

Nintendo games are kinda unique though.... And even when they are shit like the recent open world Pokemon game they still sell well lol.

They are but they've been loosing that with some of their recent game launches. BOTW and the latest Animal Crossing definitely go a long way to diluting what made those franchises feel special.

Unfortunately the problem with them selling well regardless is that is it deprives Nintendo of valuable feedback. If sales are good, a company will keep trending in that direction, if sales are bad it may indicate a course correction.

I feel like the switch is a huge beneficiary of the pandemic as those consoles were bought and will continue to push sales for the platform's lifetime. It goes a long way to hiding the fact that while Nintendo still makes good games they are not as strong as they once were like with the Wii. I feel like there's a huge market that Nintendo created with the Wii where a higher level of interactivity with games was possible that it really hasn't tapped into. The switch controlled do have motion controls but the format of the console itself often feels like it's conflicting with this idea. Either you are at home and have it docked and can use those controls to their full benefit or you are out and about and are going to want to keep them attached to the console.

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

Now imagine if Nintendo put Zelda, for example, on offer to other platforms. Yes, I know it's about pushing its hardware with a closed ecosystem, but I did just say "imagine".

Not everyone can buy a PlayStation, and an Xbox, and a Nintendo whatever all together just to get all the exclusives, of course; the gaming world would just be a better place if games weren't stuck behind hardware walls. Me thinks that's why a lot of us dig our PC gaming (despite arguably... interesting... port jobs)

Nintendo would be dead if they sold Zelda and their other IPs on other platforms and then Zelda would be gone as well. That's what it's always boiled down to. This is the age old "I want Zelda on my PC and I don't care if I kill off Zelda and Nintendo to do it, cause PC Master Race, rawrrr" argument and it's always been laughable.

You can get a switch lite for 200, less on sale. Compared to the stupid prices people pay even to just bling out their PC it's a non issue. But the tempertantrums over "no, PC Gamers should be treated special, even if it breaks the company" will continue as always.

You could always emulate it as well.

They are but they've been loosing that with some of their recent game launches. BOTW and the latest Animal Crossing definitely go a long way to diluting what made those franchises feel special.

Unfortunately the problem with them selling well regardless is that is it deprives Nintendo of valuable feedback. If sales are good, a company will keep trending in that direction, if sales are bad it may indicate a course correction.

I feel like the switch is a huge beneficiary of the pandemic as those consoles were bought and will continue to push sales for the platform's lifetime. It goes a long way to hiding the fact that while Nintendo still makes good games they are not as strong as they once were like with the Wii. I feel like there's a huge market that Nintendo created with the Wii where a higher level of interactivity with games was possible that it really hasn't tapped into. The switch controlled do have motion controls but the format of the console itself often feels like it's conflicting with this idea. Either you are at home and have it docked and can use those controls to their full benefit or you are out and about and are going to want to keep them attached to the console.

Zelda has constantly changed though. It's normal for it. The catch is they've all been good.

 

[konga]

They are but they've been loosing that with some of their recent game launches. BOTW and the latest Animal Crossing definitely go a long way to diluting what made those franchises feel special.

Unfortunately the problem with them selling well regardless is that is it deprives Nintendo of valuable feedback. If sales are good, a company will keep trending in that direction, if sales are bad it may indicate a course correction.

Zelda games don't sell well regardless of their quality, though. Skyward Sword, released at the tail end of the Wii's life, sold 600,000 copies in its first month. Tears of the Kingdom sold 10 million copies in three days. There's a bit of a difference here, I'd say. The Zelda franchise was never as popular as Nintendo's other big franchises, but now it is. And it only achieved that level of popularity when it went open world in BotW.

 

[mechtech]

"Legend of Zelda series (dating back to 1986)"

The years........they pass too fast.........

 

[sepheronx]

"Legend of Zelda series (dating back to 1986)"

The years........they pass too fast.........

Agreed old man.

I remember getting it for NES.

On another note though, apparently Nintendo says all future Zelda games will be open world. I am unsure how to feel about that. I dont consider open world always good.

 

[mechtech]

Agreed old man.

I remember getting it for NES.

On another note though, apparently Nintendo says all future Zelda games will be open world. I am unsure how to feel about that. I dont consider open world always good.

Agreed. I mean adventure of link was kind open world but in a sand box..............I mean no game map just goes on forever??? I think I just confused myself lol

well for nostalgia

and take this young people

 

[evernessince]

Zelda games don't sell well regardless of their quality, though. Skyward Sword, released at the tail end of the Wii's life, sold 600,000 copies in its first month. Tears of the Kingdom sold 10 million copies in three days. There's a bit of a difference here, I'd say. The Zelda franchise was never as popular as Nintendo's other big franchises, but now it is. And it only achieved that level of popularity when it went open world in BotW.

?? Zelda games have consistently been on the top grossing list for Nintendo consoles.

Wind waker sold 4.9 million copies ranking it number 4 in total sales for the Gamecube and Twilight princess sold 7.42 million copies for the Wii (who's top selling list is dominated by motion control oriented games)

Considering that the switch has already outsold every other Nintendo console, it makes sense that sales are high. That aligns proportionately to the increase in console sales.

FYI wind waker was also open world but IMO it was a way better implementation of it than BotW. BotW's dungeons and shrines are beyond easy and much more generic. Quality over quantity used to be the Nintendo motto.

Zelda has constantly changed though. It's normal for it. The catch is they've all been good.

It's normal for Zelda to change in a unique direction, whether that be taking it's own interpretation of some existing mechanics or making their own. It's not normal for Nintendo to be a follower, every company right now is releasing a open world game. The problem I have with BotW is that the open world feels forced, it mostly servers as a platform for more content but content that is more generic. It's odd given that Nintendo have better examples in wind waker.

 

[80-watt Hamster]

True but the game still looks like shit.

Yeah? Well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

 

[Kohl Baas]

700,000,000 million dollars in sells. still not as good as call of duty which broke a billion in one week a few years ago.

now I understand why Sony was so scared of losing CoD on its Playstation platform

Uhm... But this was under 3 days, not a week...

 

[Space Lynx]

Uhm... But this was under 3 days, not a week...

the ratio comes out to about the same

 

[Vayra86]

True but the game still looks like shit. I don't really get the appeal but I don't buy into the nintendo hive mind

You dont get the appeal, so you wont buy it obviously. But hive mind? No. Just great gameplay, worry free no nonsense gaming and a well defined style is what is on offer @ Nintendo. And that sadly is a unique selling point... the PC could use some of that lately.

 

[Space Lynx]

You dont get the appeal, so you wont buy it obviously. But hive mind? No. Just great gameplay, worry free no nonsense gaming and a well defined style is what is on offer @ Nintendo. And that sadly is a unique selling point... the PC could use some of that lately.

yeah I still haven't finished the last of Dishonored's DLC's, been too lazy to look up a tutorial. im not sure if that just says im dumb or i need to play more nintendo games lol

 

[Dredi]

Now imagine if Nintendo put Zelda, for example, on offer to other platforms. Yes, I know it's about pushing its hardware with a closed ecosystem, but I did just say "imagine".

Not everyone can buy a PlayStation, and an Xbox, and a Nintendo whatever all together just to get all the exclusives, of course; the gaming world would just be a better place if games weren't stuck behind hardware walls. Me thinks that's why a lot of us dig our PC gaming (despite arguably... interesting... port jobs)

It’s perfectly legal to run this game on PC. The switch emulators are quite capable. Just buy the physical copy, mirror it to your hard drive and set forth on your adventure.

Always online content will not work though, but that’s about it.

 

[RegaeRevaeb]

Nintendo would be dead if they sold Zelda and their other IPs on other platforms and then Zelda would be gone as well. That's what it's always boiled down to. This is the age old "I want Zelda on my PC and I don't care if I kill off Zelda and Nintendo to do it, cause PC Master Race, rawrrr" argument and it's always been laughable.

You can get a switch lite for 200, less on sale. Compared to the stupid prices people pay even to just bling out their PC it's a non issue. But the tempertantrums over "no, PC Gamers should be treated special, even if it breaks the company" will continue as always.

You could always emulate it as well.



Zelda has constantly changed though. It's normal for it. The catch is they've all been good.

Woah, slow down there. I don't believe in any Master Race anything (and I'm amazed, frankly, the term has been allowed to survive). I'm no fanboy of any particular platform, so kindly refrain from making assumptions.

My post was, at its heart, about the nastiness of hardware locks, and my view that software in today's far-more-connected-and-integrated-compared-to-my-childhood world could be more universal. If that was unclear, I regret the error. It was a wish, a thought exercise, and one supposed to have been a light, too.

As for the emulation bit raised often, I think it's fair baseball with depreciated OSes and platforms; however, again, it'd just be swell goshdarnit if first-party publications existed.

About the Switch bit (and similarly with those who do the Steam Deck), I'm a quadriplegic with interestingly unique motor function, so my platforms of choice depend on accessible controls and certain games. For background, I came into my injury in my late-20s and grew up with both consoles and PCs -- and also OG Gameboys, so I'm sensitive to what exists and how a large group of the population may have challenges using X, Y or Z platform today in 2023.

Anyway, if software (games) is/are worth their salt they'd stand well in the market by themselves. And as for Nintendo dying hyperbole... many companies in various industries have made pivots as societal and technological changes happen. T'was always thus. We have today hardware platform companies examined by regulators because there exist fears -- for better or worse -- about anti-competitive practices about game software. That evidences the idea this stuff is important enough that perhaps it'd be nice if games were as platform agnostic as I am.

If that rankles the masses, insert a shrug and sigh for me. It's sunny outside today so there's something as good as gaming, ranting, etc. out there.

I forgot, my six-year-old son plays games on his Switch Lite. I'm filled with wonder as if I'm seeing myself back in the dawn of handheld gaming... before gaming was cool. It'd be nice to be able to play certain games he really likes with him. Point here: we can all pause to appreciate how great things are and that they'll likely keep getting better. Happy long weekend Victoria Day, etc. for some of you/us.