Pokémon Franchise Approaches 150 Million Games Sold

Pokémon Franchise Approaches 150 Million Games Sold

Pokémon has not only proved itself as a leader in the video game industry, but it also has become an obsession for millions of zealous fans. Pokémon has spawned more than $15 billion in worldwide retail sales, while the franchise is on the verge of selling its 150 millionth game worldwide. Without fail, every new Pokémon game sells more than 1 million, while the legacy has grown in the United States since its introduction in 1998. But the newest game speaks for itself – Pokémon® XD: Gale of Darkness launched Oct. 3 for Nintendo GameCube™ and is the next step on the ladder of success for Pokémon. As fans have grown up, so has the game.

The role-playing game brings with it nearly 40 hours of game play and a fantastic new storyline. The legendary Lugiaâ„¢ tragically has been turned into Shadow Lugia: the ultimate Shadow Pokémon that supposedly can’t be purified. The evil organization Cipher is dedicated to world domination and uses Shadow Lugia to steal a Pokémon-carrying cargo ship. Now players must snag and purify the Shadow Pokémon, saving them from a life of evil deeds.

The game is inundated with fascinating and original features: Players can use a new method to help purify up to nine Pokémon at once in the Purify Chamber. Taking full advantage of the Purify Chamber means building up a collection of purified Pokémon to place around the Shadow Pokémon: the more the Pokémon, the faster the purification.

Read the complete Press Release