Nintendo has revealed the first sales figures for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The game is on track to become the biggest release of the year.
According to Nintendo of America, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has sold over 10 million copies globally in just three days since its launch on May 12.
It is now the fastest-selling title in the long-running series. 4 million units were sold in the US, which makes Tears of Kingdom the fastest-selling Nintendo title ever in the region.
“We’re grateful for all of our fans who’ve shown their passion for The Legend of Zelda over the years, and these sales numbers for the latest installment continue to show the strong momentum for both the franchise and Nintendo Switch this year,” Nintendo of America executive VP of sales, marketing, and communications Devon Pritchard said in a statement.
The Legend of #Zelda: #TearsOfTheKingdom 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! pic.twitter.com/XxRSLaiWrO
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) May 17, 2023
It is worth noting that last year, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have also sold over 10 million units worldwide in the first three days. This means that they are now tied with Tears of the Kingdom as Nintendo’s fastest-selling first-party games for all of its consoles, including Switch.
The new Zelda title also received critical acclaim, with an average Metascore of 96/100 based on 93 reviews. This makes it one of the highest-rated video games of all time. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time still holds the throne with an average score of 99/100.
Tears of the Kingdom has every chance to become the highest-grossing premium game of 2023. Its main competitor, Hogwarts Legacy, has already sold more than 15 million copies and generated over $1 billion since its February launch. As for upcoming releases, a new Call of Duty game, expected to launch this fall, may once again become a hit for Activision, but right now, Zelda’s position seems quite strong (especially given that it is a first-party console exclusive).