Video Game Sales Wiki
Don't have an account?
Register
Advertisement
Register
in: Best selling games, Video games, Nintendo Franchises, Role-playing games

Pokémon

Revision as of 20:27, 7 November 2020 by GmanSir (Message Wall | contribs) (new no.)
View source

Pokémon is a media franchise owned by Nintendo, created in 1995 and debuted in 1996. It is the highest-grossing entertainment media franchise of all time, having grossed an estimated $90 billion in lifetime revenue.

In terms of software sales, Pokémon is the second best-selling game franchise, having sold over 340 million units as of March 2019,[1] behind only Mario. In addition, Pokémon Go is the most-downloaded mobile game, with over 1 billion downloads.[2] The Pokémon video game series has shifted a total of over 1.31 billion units in retail sales and official downloads.

Beyond video games, the Pokémon Trading Card Game has also sold over 25.7 billion cards,[3] making it the second best-selling trading card game, after Yu-Gi-Oh![4] The Pokémon anime series is also very successful, with the films watched by over 70 million viewers at the Japan box office, and the television series watched by more than 1 billion viewers across 124 countries.

Video games

Main series

Year Platform Titles Sales
(millions) 		Ref Gross
(million US$)
(no inflation) 		Ref Gross
(million US$)
(with inflation)
1996 Pokémon Red/Green/Blue/Yellow 59.52 2384 3513
1996 GB Pokémon Red/Green/Blue 31.38 [5] 1271 [n 1] 2372
1998 GB Pokémon Yellow 14.64 [5] 454 [n 2] 815
2004 GBA Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen 12.00 [5] 640 [n 3] 992
2016 3DS (VC) Pokémon Red/Green/Blue/Yellow 1.5 [6] 19 [n 4] 23
1999 Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal 42.21 1990 2663
1999 GBC Pokémon Gold & Silver 23.10 [5] 1016 [n 5] 1785
2000 GBC Pokémon Crystal 6.39 [5] 211 [n 6] 359
2009 DS Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver 12.72 [7] 763 [n 7] 1041
2002 Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald 37.62 1648 1996
2002 GBA Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire 16.22 [5] 689 [n 8] 1121
2004 GBA Pokémon Emerald 7.06 [5] 256 [n 9] 397
2014 3DS Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire 14.34 [8] 703 [n 10] 869
2006 Pokémon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum 25.27 1150 1368
2006 DS Pokémon Diamond & Pearl 17.67 [7] 778 [n 11] 1130
2008 DS Pokémon Platinum 7.60 [5] 372 [n 12] 506
2010 Pokémon Black/White 24.16 1194 1316
2010 DS Pokémon Black & White 15.64 [7] 759 [n 13] 1019
2012 DS Pokémon Black 2 & White 2 8.52 [5] 435 [n 14] 554
2013 Pokémon X/Y 16.49 953 1001
2013 3DS Pokémon X & Y 16.49 [8] 953 [n 15] 1197
2016 Pokémon Sun/Moon 25.09 1247.4 1265
2016 3DS Pokémon Sun & Moon 16.20 [8] 879.4 [n 16] 1072
2017 3DS Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon 8.89 [8] 368 [n 17] 368
2018 Pokémon Switch 31.51
2018 Switch

Pokémon: Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee

12.49 [21]
2019 Switch

Pokémon Sword & Shield

19.02 [21]
Main series total 261.87 11,166 13,722

Spin-offs

Year Platform Title Sales
(millions) 		Ref
1999 Pokémon Pinball series 6.68
1999 GB Pokémon Pinball 5.31 [5]
2003 GBA Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire 1.37 [5]
1999 Pokémon Stadium series 9.95
1999 N64 Pokémon Stadium 5.46 [5]
2000 N64 Pokémon Stadium 2 2.54 [5]
2006 Wii Pokémon Battle Revolution 1.95 [5]
2003 Pokémon Colosseum series 3.78
2003 GCN Pokémon Colosseum 2.41 [5]
2005 GCN Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness 1.37 [5]
2005 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series 16.65
2005 GBA Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team 2.36 [5]
DS Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team 3.49 [5]
2007 DS Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness 		4.88 [5]
2009 DS Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky 1.49 [5]
2013 3DS Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity 1.37 [5]
2015 3DS Super Pokémon Mystery Dungeon 1.65 [5]
2020 Switch Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX 1.43 [5]
2006 Pokémon Ranger series 6.81
2006 DS Pokémon Ranger 2.93 [5]
2008 DS Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia 2.35 [5]
2010 DS Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs 1.53 [5]
Pokkén Tournament 2.13
2016 Wii U

Pokkén Tournament

1.00 [22]
2017 Switch

Pokkén Tournament DX

2.13

[n 18]

Other games 10.33
1998 GB Pokémon Trading Card Game 3.70 [5]
1999 N64 Pokémon Snap 3.63 [5]
2008 WiiWare My Pokemon Ranch 0.20 [25]
2009 WiiWare Pokémon Rumble 0.15 [25]
2010 Wii PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure 1.25 [5]
2011 3DS Pokémon Rumble Blast 1.40

[5]

Total Sales 57.33

Mobile

Year Platform Title Downloads
(millions) 		Gross
(million US$) 		Ref
2016 iOS
Android 		Pokémon Go 1000 4700 [2][n 19]

Franchise revenue

Date Gross revenue Ref
Trillion JP¥
(no inflation) 		Billion US$
(no inflation) 		Billion US$
(with inflation)
1997 4 7 [n 20]
1998 7.28 13 [n 21]
1999 10.56 19 [n 22]
2000 14

24

[31]
2001 2 17

28

[n 23]
2002 3 26.1 42 [n 24]
March 2013 4 50 60

[n 25]

March 2015 4.4 54 65.1 [n 26]
September 2015 4.6 56 67.2 [n 27]
May 2016 4.8 63.4 74.6 [n 28]
March 2017 6 74.43 85.63 [n 29]
February 2019 90 90

[42][43]

By June 1998, the Pokémon franchise was worth $4 billion in Japan.[29] By March 1999, Pokémon was generating revenues of nearly ¥400 billion ($3.28 billion) annually.[30] In Japan, the franchise earned ¥1 trillion by 2002, including ¥98 billion from Japanese software sales.[44]

Worldwide, the franchise earned ¥2 trillion by 2001.[32] By 2002, the franchise had earned ¥3 trillion,[34] including $15 billion from merchandise sales worldwide,[45] while the rest were earned from video games, anime, and trading cards. In 2005, a theme park was opened in Nagoya, Japan.[46] By 2013, the Pokémon franchise had earned ¥4 trillion in revenue.[36]

As of March 2017, the Pokémon franchise has grossed ¥6 trillion ($75 billion) in revenue. ¥78.87 billion ($988 million) was grossed from Pokémon films, which were seen by 74.33 million moviegoers, while the rest of the earnings were from the video games, trading card game, anime TV show, and licensed products.[3] This makes Pokémon the highest-grossing entertainment media franchise of all time, ahead of Star Wars ($42 billion), Harry Potter ($25 billion), James Bond ($6 billion), and The Lord of the Rings ($6 billion).[47]

Other media

Card game

Anime

Music

Merchandise

  • Food – 90 million sales (2 countries)
    • Pokémon Lunchables – 50 million packages (United States)[70]
    • Pokémon Curry – 40 million servings (Japan)[60]
  • Toys – 27.5 million sales (2 countries)
    • Burger King Pokéballs – 25 million (United States)[71]
    • Tenohira Pikachu – 2.2 million (Japan)[60]

Demographics

The regional breakdown of Pokémon franchise revenues:[3]

  • Japan: 35%
  • Overseas: 65%

The demographic breakdown of Pokémon Go users:[72]

  • Gender:
    • Female: 63%
    • Male: 37%
  • Age:
    • 13-17: 22%
    • 18-29: 46%
    • 30-50: 25%
    • Over 50: 6%
  • Income:
    • Under $50K: 45.8%
    • $50K to $100K: 19.6%
    • Over $100K: 34.6%
  • Region:
    • Urban: 90%
    • Rural: 10%

Awareness of Pokemon Go among the American population (325.7 million)[73] according to a survey in September 2017:[74]

  • Play it regularly – 13% – estimated 42,341,000 people
  • Play it from time to time – 17% – estimated 55,369,000 people
  • Know it, but never play it (not anymore) – 55% – estimated 179,135,000 people
  • Don't know Pokémon – 15% – estimated 48,855,000 people

Generations

First generation

The first generation of Pokémon consists of the worldwide Editions Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow and Pokémon Green which was only sold in Japan. They sold 47.52 million units on the Game Boy and Virtual Console.

Second generation

The second generation consists of Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal. They sold 29.49 million units on the Game Boy Color.

Third generation

The third generation consists of Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. They sold 22.54 million units on the Game Boy Advance.

FireRed and LeafGreen are first generation remakes. They sold 12 million units on the Game Boy Advance.

Fourth generation

The fourth generation consists of Pokémon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum, with 25.24 million sold units.

HeartGold and SoulSilver are second generation remakes. They sold 12.72 million units on the Nintendo DS.

Fifth generation

The fifth generation consists of two versions of each Pokémon Black and White, with 24.14 million sold units.

Sixth generation

The sixth generation consists of Pokémon X and Y, with 16.06 million sold units. In Japan, it has sold about 4.5 million.

Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, a remake of the third generation for the Nintendo 3DS, was successful. Pre-orders were ahead of X & Y and launch sales have been good. In America, the game has sold 2.6 million with versions combined as of the end of December and 2.9 million by the end of February. It sold 476,000 in France by the end of December 2014.[75]. In Japan, it sold 2.5 million by the end of 2014. They exceeded 10 million by September 2015. In May 2016, the game exceeded 3 million in Europe. They sold 13.68 million units in total.

Pokémon Go is based off this generation and has broken most records in relation to mobile charts, including being #1 in top grossing in the most countries as well as the fastest to hit $600 million in revenue.[76]

Seventh generation

The seventh generation consists of Pokémon Sun and Moon. Due to the preceding hype built by a Superbowl Commercial, re-releases of the original games on digital storefronts, and Pokémon Go, it surpassed Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire as Nintendo's most preordered game. In November 2016, the games have sold 3.7 million in the Americas and 1.5 million in Europe, becoming Nintendo's fastest seller titles ever. With Japanese numbers, the games sold about 7.5 million copies in 2 weeks. In the United States, by December 2016, the game had sold 4.5 million copies, making it the fastest Nintendo game to reach 4 million. As of December 31, 2016, the game has shipped 14.69 million copies, already outselling Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.

Notes

  1. ↑ Average Pokémon Red/Green/Blue price: $40.50
  2. ↑ Average Pokémon Yellow price: $31
  3. ↑ Average Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen price: $53.33
  4. ↑ Average Pokémon Red/Green/Blue/Yellow (Virtual Console) price: $12.50
  5. ↑ Average Pokémon Gold & Silver price: $44
  6. ↑ Average Pokémon Gold & Silver price: $33.05
  7. ↑ Average Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver price: $60
  8. ↑ Average Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire price: $42.50
  9. ↑ Average Pokémon Emerald price: $40.50
  10. ↑ Average Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire price: $51
  11. ↑ Pokémon Diamond & Pearl:
  12. ↑ Average Pokémon Platinum price: $49
  13. ↑ Average Pokémon Black & White price: $48.50
  14. ↑ Average Pokémon Black 2 & White 2 price: $51
  15. ↑ Average Pokémon X & Y price: $59
  16. ↑ Average Pokémon Sun & Moon price: $53.50
    • Japan: 6.2 million units[11][12] at ¥5378 ($50) = $415.4 million
    • Overseas: 9.85 million units at $47.10 average price = $464 million
  17. ↑ Pokémon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon [14]
    • Japan – 2,440,000 units at ¥5378[15] = ¥13,122,320,000 ($123,708,666)[16]
    • Overseas – 5,070,000 units at $48.16 average = $244,171,200
  18. ↑ Pokkén Tournament DX
    • Japan – 328,108[23]
    • Overseas – 1.80 million[24]
  19. ↑ Pokémon Go gross revenue:
    • 2016-2017 - $2 billion[26]
    • 2018 - $1.3 billion[27]
    • 2019 – $1.4 billion[28]
  20. ↑ Japan gross up until 1997[29]
  21. ↑ Worldwide gross in 1998: $3.28 billion[30]
  22. ↑ Worldwide gross in 1999: $3.28 billion[30]
  23. ↑ Worldwide gross up until 2001: ¥2 trillion[32]
    • Currency conversion: $17 billion[33]
  24. ↑ Worldwide gross up until 2002: ¥3 trillion[34]
    • Currency conversion: $26.1 billion[35]
  25. ↑ Worldwide gross up until March 2013: ¥4 trillion[36] ($50 billion, or $61 billion with inflation)
    • Gross up until 2002: ¥3 trillion ($26.1 billion, or $42 billion with inflation)
    • Additional gross up until March 2013: ¥1 trillion ($23.9 billion, or $30 billion with inflation)
  26. ↑ Worldwide gross up until March 2015: ¥4.4 trillion[37] ($54 billion, or $65.1 billion with inflation)
    • Gross up until March 2013: ¥4 trillion ($50 billion, or $61 billion with inflation)
    • Gross from April 2013 to March 2015: ¥400 billion ($4 billion, or $4.9 billion with inflation)
  27. ↑ Worldwide gross up until September 2015: ¥4.6 trillion[38] ($56 billion, or $67.2 billion with inflation)
    • Gross up until March 2015: ¥4.4 trillion ($54 billion, or $65.1 billion with inflation)
    • Gross during April-September 2015: ¥200 billion ($2 billion,[39] or $2.5 billion with inflation)
  28. ↑ Worldwide gross up until May 2016: ¥4.8 trillion[40] ($63.4 billion, or $74.6 billion with inflation)
    • Gross up until September 2015: ¥4.6 trillion ($56 billion, or $67.2 billion with inflation)
    • Gross from April 2015 to May 2016: ¥800 billion ($7.4 billion)[41]
  29. ↑ Worldwide gross up until March 2017: ¥6 trillion[3] ($74.43 billion, or $85.63 billion with inflation)
    • Gross up until May 2016: ¥4.8 trillion ($63.4 billion, or $74.6 billion with inflation)
    • Gross from June 2016 to March 2017: ¥1.2 trillion ($11.03 billion)[41]
  30. ↑ Pokémon television series in United States (2000) – 8.1/29 rating/share,[52] out of 282.2 million population[53] = 22.8582 million viewers
  31. ↑ Pokémon television series in the Philippines (2015) – 9.3% share,[54] out of 101.7 million population[55] = 9.4581 million viewers

References

  1. ↑ http://www.pokemon.co.jp/corporate/en/services/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/28/18243332/pokemon-go-sword-shield-franchise-history-niantic-nintendo-switch
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Pokémon in Figures. Pokémon Company (March 2017).
  4. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20110620054031/www.konami-digital-entertainment.co.jp/en/news/topics/2011/0614/
  5. ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 5.24 5.25 5.26 5.27 5.28 5.29 Nintendo software and hardware sales data from 1983 to present, December 2017
  6. ↑ Financial Results Briefing for Fiscal Year Ended March 2016. Nintendo (April 28, 2016). Retrieved on May 1, 2016.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 IR Information : Sales Data - Top Selling Software Sales Units - Nintendo DS Software
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/sales/software/3ds.html
  9. ↑ Famitsu: Japan's 21st Century Top 100 Selling Games
  10. ↑ http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml
  11. ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2017/170427_6e.pdf
  12. ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2018/180131_3e.pdf
  13. ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-3DS/Pokemon-Sun-1092368.html
  14. ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2018/180426_4e.pdf
  15. ↑ https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=34785
  16. ↑ Pokémon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon – JPY-USD currency conversion
  17. ↑ https://www.bullring.co.uk/shoponline/product/658762a93229/pokemon-ultra-moon-fan-edition
  18. ↑ http://fxtop.com/en/historical-exchange-rates.php?A=39.99&C1=GBP&C2=USD&DD1=31&MM1=03&YYYY1=2018&B=1&P=&I=1&DD2=31&MM2=03&YYYY2=2018
  19. ↑ https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/pokemon-ultra-sun-3ds
  20. ↑ https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/pokemon-ultra-moon-3ds
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/software/index.html
  22. ↑ http://www.siliconera.com/2016/08/18/pokkn-tournament-surpasses-one-million-worldwide-shipments
  23. ↑ https://sites.google.com/site/gamedatalibrary/game-search
  24. ↑ https://www.resetera.com/threads/nintendo-software-and-hardware-sales-data-from-1983-to-present.2725/
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 http://ign.com/articles/2010/02/23/wiiware-virtual-console-sales-exposed
  26. ↑ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-05/pokemon-s-ceo-hints-at-big-plans-for-games-on-smartphone-switch
  27. ↑ https://www.superdataresearch.com/market-data/market-brief-year-in-review/
  28. ↑ https://www.superdataresearch.com/2019-year-in-review/
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 http://cjonline.com/stories/082798/com_pokemon0827.shtml
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 http://thegia.com/archive/news/n990603a.html
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Billboard (January 27, 2001)
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 http://www.iist.or.jp/wf/magazine/0196/0196_E.html
  33. ↑ 121 JPY per USD in 2001
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Japanese Pop Industry (MIT)
  35. ↑ 115 JPY per USD in 2003
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "Pokémon X · Y" is released on October 12, 2013, Famitsu
  37. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20151205162239/www.pokemon.co.jp/corporate/en/data/
  38. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20160628041935/www.pokemon.co.jp/corporate/en/data/
  39. ↑ 121 JPY per USD in 2015
  40. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20160721223226/www.pokemon.co.jp/corporate/en/data/
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 108.8 JPY per USD in 2016
  42. ↑ https://observer.com/2019/01/box-office-predictions-avengers-endgame-star-wars-fast-and-furious/
  43. ↑ https://www.cbr.com/video-pokemon-fan-theory-ash-coma/
  44. ↑ http://academic.csuohio.edu/makelaa/history/courses/his373/The%20Japan%20Times%20Online.htm
  45. ↑ http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/9.09/topten_pr.html
  46. ↑ http://archive.li/4d5Jq
  47. ↑ Chew, Jonathan (December 24, 2015). Star Wars Franchise Worth More Than Harry Potter and James Bond, Combined. Fortune. Retrieved on November 29, 2016.
  48. ↑ https://v.qq.com/x/cover/tyeqdw6rof7t5ow.html
  49. ↑ 精灵宝可梦 第一季：第1集. Youku. Retrieved on May 29, 2018.
  50. ↑ http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/kids/pokemon-resonates-with-hungama-s-audiences-vijay-subramaniam-141126
  51. ↑ https://www.historychannel.com.au/this-day-in-history/pokemon-causes-seizures-throughout-japan/
  52. ↑ http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-2000/BC-2000-04-03.pdf
  53. ↑ https://www.google.com/search?q=us+population+2000
  54. ↑ http://abscbnpr.com/national-tv-ratings-19-30-december-2015/
  55. ↑ https://www.google.com/search?q=philippines+population+2015
  56. ↑ SMTV Live
  57. ↑ Digital Play: The Interaction of Technology, Culture, and Marketing
  58. ↑ List of highest-grossing anime films
  59. ↑ Billboard (February 3, 2001)
  60. ↑ 60.0 60.1 60.2 Uchida, Mariko (2007). "The Content Business and Its Externalities: A Ripple Effect Model". Keio Communication Review (Keio University) 29. http://www.mediacom.keio.ac.jp/publication/pdf2007/pdf/Mariko%20UCHIDA.pdf.
  61. ↑ http://www.generasia.com/wiki/Mezase_Pokemon_Master
  62. ↑ Pokémon 2.B.A. Master
  63. ↑ Billboard (May 10, 2003)
  64. ↑ https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7453639/true-story-behind-pokemon-theme-song
  65. ↑ Pokémon: The First Movie (soundtrack)
  66. ↑ Billboard (April 21, 2001)
  67. ↑ Don't Wanna Know
  68. ↑ http://kworb.net/youtube/video/ANS9sSJA9Yc.html
  69. ↑ http://kworb.net/spotify/artist/04gDigrS5kc9YWfZHwBETP.html
  70. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/26/business/mania-for-pocket-monsters-yields-billions-for-nintendo.html
  71. ↑ http://articles.latimes.com/2000/may/05/local/me-26913
  72. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2016/07/26/more-women-than-men-are-playing-pokemon-go-by-a-lot/
  73. ↑ https://www.google.com/search?q=us+population+2017
  74. ↑ https://www.statista.com/forecasts/790475/pokemon-go-awareness-in-the-us
  75. ↑ http://www.lefigaro.fr/secteur/high-tech/2015/01/22/01007-20150122ARTFIG00382-nintendo-premier-vendeur-de-jeux-video-en-france.php
  76. ↑ http://venturebeat.com/2016/10/20/pokemon-go-is-the-fastest-mobile-game-to-hit-600-million-in-revenues/
Best selling franchises
Mario · Pokémon · FIFA · Grand Theft Auto · Call of Duty · Wii Series · Lego · The Sims · Minecraft · Final Fantasy · Assassin's Creed · Need for Speed · Sonic · Madden NFL · The Legend of Zelda · Star Wars · Resident Evil · Pro Evolution Soccer · Tetris · NBA 2K · (more)
See also: Best selling games · Best selling games worldwide · Highest grossing franchises
Pokemon-mainline-LTDs-100-1-

Famitsu Japan sales through October 2008 (courtesy Chart Get!)

Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.
Advertisement

Fan Feed

More Video Game Sales Wiki