Nintendo’s first $70 game is only the sixth in thirty years to receive perfect scores from two prestigious publications.
The big N announced that 10 million copies of the latest The Legend of Zelda were sold in three days (between May 12 and 14). This result makes it the fastest-selling title in the franchise, which is not surprising, as the constant growth of the gaming industry means more people are playing, which means more potential buyers means more sales. More than 4 million sales have been made in the Americas, making it the fastest-selling Nintendo game en bloc (and it also has this result on the Switch). In Japan, 2.24 million sales were made in the three days mentioned.
Devon Pritchard, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of sales, marketing, and communications, said in a press release: “Many players are returning to Hyrule with all its new mysteries and possibilities, and with the record-breaking launch of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for Nintendo Switch, we can’t wait to see what they’ll create in the game and the stories they’ll share next. 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.”
Japan’s Famitsu (where four reviewers’ scores on a 1-10 scale make up the final score) gave the game a maximum score of 40, with 28 games having received this since the magazine’s launch in 1986. EDGE launched in 1993, and they gave only 10 points to 24 games. Only six games are common to the two lists, so in total, half a dozen games have been given similar maximum ratings by one of the most prestigious press outlets in the East and West: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Bayonetta, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Grand Theft Auto V, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Four Zelda games on the list…
Congratulations.
