Nintendo has revealed that its newest entry in the Zelda series has sold over 10 million copies within just three days. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has set a new record as the fastest-selling Zelda game to date.
In comparison, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time—the top-rated game on gaming-aggregator Metacritic—sold 7.4 million copies throughout its entire lifespan.
Released exclusively for the Nintendo Switch on Friday, Tears of the Kingdom has already surpassed the sales figures of every other Zelda game except for its predecessor, Breath of the Wild.
Breath of the Wild, which came out in 2017 for both the Switch and Wii U, achieved sales of nearly 30 million units, according to Statista.
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In other news, Elden Ring, a 2022 Game Awards winner, had sold approximately 20.5 million units by March 2023. However, unlike Tears of the Kingdom, Elden Ring was available on multiple platforms, including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.
According to GamesIndustry.biz, Tears of the Kingdom has also marked the largest physical video-game launch of 2023 in the UK, selling 50% more physical copies than Hogwarts Legacy.
Piers Harding-Rolls from Ampere Analysis told: “The phenomenal initial sales of the latest Zelda title place it among the most successful paid games ever released. With estimated gross sales exceeding $600 million (£480 million), it ranks high but still falls short of the very top performers.
“For instance, Grand Theft Auto V achieved over $1 billion in sales during its three-day launch period.
“While Zelda has always been a cherished series among Nintendo enthusiasts, the success of the Switch console and the franchise’s transition to an open-world format have significantly broadened its appeal.”
