It appears Nintendo significantly underestimated the demand for its new Pokémon spin-off, Pokémon Pokopia. The company has faced criticism for its physical release strategy, which uses a “Game Key-Card” — essentially an empty cartridge in a box that requires players to download the game files from the internet. However, this unusual approach hasn’t deterred Nintendo Switch 2 owners, as the title is rapidly selling out across Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
In the United States, the physical version of Pokémon Pokopia is already proving difficult to find in stores. High demand prompted Amazon to raise the price to $80, yet even at this increased cost, the game quickly sold out and is currently unavailable. Similar stock shortages are being reported at major retailers like Walmart, GameStop, and Target.
A similar scenario is unfolding in the United Kingdom. According to industry analysts, retailers received an insufficient number of Pokémon Pokopia copies. Chris Dring, head of The Game Business, stated that despite significant public interest, physical sales for the game have not even reached half the launch figures of Pokémon Legends Z-A, primarily due to the severe undersupply.