How well follow-on Pokémon games (sequels, remakes, Legends titles) sold relative to the game they followed, as ratios of Nintendo’s unit figures

How it’s built

1. Took Nintendo’s unit figures for each pair: for example Ultra Sun/Moon 9.28 million against Sun/Moon 16.34 million, a ratio of 0.57.
2. Compared remakes with the main game before them: Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire against X/Y was 0.87; Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl against Sword/Shield in each launch year was 0.84.
3. Compared Legends: Z-A after 5.5 months with Legends: Arceus after 2 months: about 1.0.

What we assumed

• Launch-year totals compare titles at different ages on sale.Each pair notes the months on sale (for example 4.3 against 4.5). Where the gap is large, as with Arceus at 2 months, the ratio understates the younger title.
• Nintendo’s copies sold to retailers stand in for player demand.Nintendo reports only sell-in, on the same basis for all titles, so the ratios are at least consistent.

Sanity check

The pattern: a same-region sequel reached 0.57, remakes 0.84 to 0.87. Legends: Arceus, an old region in a new format, did better than its follow-on status suggests, which weakens a simple “new region or nothing” reading.

Where it comes from

Our calculation from other figures in the trainer’s notes:

• EstimateThe Pokémon Company’s Tokyo company revenue growth in years with and without a new console game, 2021 to 2026. New-game years averaged 38% growth; other years 33%

Where it’s used

• StoryVideo games

Related figures

Built from this one

• FiledRemakes against originals, as dated