Pokemon 3DS games and apparel receive big boost in the UK stemming from Pokemon GO
In the UK, Pokemon is getting a huge sales boost on 3DS thanks to Pokemon GO. GfK numbers from last week show a 145 percent increase in combined sales of previous Pokemon titles on Nintendo’s handheld.
MCV shares the following data about the Pokemon boost:
Top selling Pokemon games for week ending July 16 (sales increase %)
1. Pokémon Alpha Sapphire – 148%
2. Pokémon Omega Ruby – 148%
3. Pokémon X – 238%
4. Pokémon Y – 188%
5. Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon – 65%
These five games in total –148%
Pokémon Total – 145%
MCV also heard from licensing sources that Nintendo has raised projections for Sun and Moon. Speaking of those two games, both are among the top ten most pre-ordered games on Amazon.
Aside from the Pokemon games, apparel is also doing very well. BioWorld Europe told MCV that new lines are in the works with its current range ‘flying out the door’.
If that wasn’t enough, sales of the Pokemon Trading Card Game are up by 100 percent. However, MCV does note that this is partially due to Pokemon’s 20th anniversary.
Ben Hogg, marketing manager at Pokemon Trading Card supplier Esdevium, said:
“We’ve not seen the same excitement around the brand since the original UK launch in the 1990s. TCG 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.”
The senior buyer of one of the UK’s biggest games outlets also told MCV:
“Although Pokémon Go will probably tail-off a bit, we do expect the franchise to be one of the most talked about this Christmas. It will have a positive impact on the 3DS, toys and cards, too.”
