Nintendo appears to have significantly underestimated the demand for its new Pokémon spin-off, Pokémon Pokopia.
The company had previously faced criticism regarding the game’s physical release, which comes as a ‘Game Key-Card’ – essentially an empty cartridge in a box that requires players to download the full game files from the internet. However, this distribution model did not deter Nintendo Switch owners, as the new title is selling out rapidly across Japan, the UK, and the US.
According to reports, the physical boxed version of Pokémon Pokopia is already difficult to find in American stores. Due to overwhelming demand, Amazon reportedly raised its price to $80, yet even at this increased cost, the game quickly sold out and is currently unavailable. Similar stock shortages are being observed at major retailers like Walmart, GameStop, and Target.
A similar situation is unfolding in the United Kingdom, where analysts suggest that retailers received an insufficient number of Pokémon Pokopia copies. Chris Dring, head of The Game Business, stated that as a result, the physical sales of the game have not even reached half of what Pokémon Legends: Z-A achieved, despite strong consumer interest.