In a remarkable feat, Nintendo’s latest addition to the Zelda series, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, has achieved unprecedented success, selling over 10 million copies within a mere three days of its release.
This achievement makes Tears of the Kingdom the fastest-selling Zelda game in history, surpassing the acclaimed title The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which sold 7.4 million copies over its entire run. Released exclusively for the Nintendo Switch on Friday, the game has already outperformed nearly every Zelda installment, trailing only its predecessor, Breath of the Wild.
Breath of the Wild, launched in 2017 for both the Switch and Wii U, garnered an impressive 30 million unit sales. Meanwhile, Elden Ring, the fantasy game developed by the creators of Dark Souls and winner of the 2022 Game Awards, amassed an estimated 20.5 million units sold as of March 2023. However, it is worth noting that Elden Ring was released across multiple platforms, including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.
Notably, Tears of the Kingdom has also claimed the title of the biggest physical video game launch in the UK for 2023, surpassing Hogwarts Legacy by a significant margin, with a 50% increase in physical copies sold.
Commenting on the monumental success of the game, Piers Harding-Rolls from Ampere Analysis stated, “The huge opening sales of the latest Zelda places it amongst the biggest paid-for games ever released.” While Tears of the Kingdom falls short of the colossal three-day sales of Grand Theft Auto V, which amassed over $1 billion in revenue, it has solidified its position as one of the most influential and sought-after gaming experiences.
The triumph of Tears of the Kingdom can be attributed to the combination of the enduring popularity of the Zelda franchise among Nintendo enthusiasts and the transformative open-world experience it offers, thanks to the remarkable success of the Switch console.
As Zelda fans and gaming enthusiasts celebrate this remarkable achievement, it remains to be seen how Tears of the Kingdom will continue to captivate players and reshape the landscape of the gaming industry.