[UK] Pokémon GO boosts sales of Pokémon games (+145%), apparel
Earlier this week, we speculated that Pokémon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire’s comeback in the All-Format Top 40 in the UK was most likely due to Pokémon GO, and it looks like we were spot on. According to Gfk, combined sales of Pokémon games on Nintendo 3D have increased by 145% last week, in the United Kingdom.
Even the Nintendo 3DS itself saw its sales increase, though that’s mostly due to the release of Monster Hunter Generations and the New Nintendo 3DS XL bundle.
Here’s the top-selling Pokémon games for last week in the United Kingdom:
- Pokémon Alpha Sapphire – 148%
- Pokémon Omega Ruby – 148%
- Pokémon X – 238%
- Pokémon Y – 188%
- Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon – 65%
- Five games above — 148%
- All Pokémon games – 145%
- (N
As a result, Nintendo has raised projections for Pokémon Sun and Moon (releasing on November 23rd in Europe), in part due to an increase in pre-orders over the week-end.
But it’s not just games that are selling: apparel is too. BioWorld Europe told MCV UK they were now developing new lines, due to its current range currently “flying out the door”. More and more retailers are requesting Pokémon products to capitalise on the Pokémon GO craze.
The Pokémon Trading Card Games has also enjoyed a nice boost in sales (+100%), but this is mostly due to the Pokémon 20th Anniversary (and its various promotions).
Here’s what Ben Hogg (marketing manager at Esdevium, the Pokémon Trading Card manufacturer) said about that:
We’ve not seen the same excitement around the brand since the original UK launch in the 1990sTCG sales are up around eight times the level we saw back in 2012 and over 100 per cent year-on-year from 2015.
We are excited about Pokémon Go and the effect it could have on the TCG. The high profile launch has certainly generated plenty of additional interest in Pokémon from our retailers. It is hard to say if it will lead to some good extra sales or if it will be a catalyst for further huge growth. But we are confident the effect will be positive, just how positive we do not yet know.
Right now, UK stores are apparently braced for a Pokémon Christmas. One of the senior buyer of one of the country’s biggest games outlets explained they were expecting Pokémon to be one of the most talked about franchises this Christmas. They believe that the Pokémon GO craze will have a positive impact on the Nintendo 3DS and the 3DS games, the toys, and the cards.
Source: MCV UK
