In brief: Nintendo couldn't have scripted a better start for its latest Zelda title. The Japanese gaming giant sold more than 10 million copies of Tears of the Kingdom in its first three days on the market, making it the fastest selling Zelda game in history.
More than four million copies were sold in the Americas, Nintendo said, making Tears of the Kingdom the fastest selling Switch game and the fastest selling Nintendo game for any system in the region.
The first three days of sales were enough for Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to break into the top 20 list of best selling Switch games, and it will need to sell just five million more copies to crack the top 10.
Its predecessor, Breath of the Wild, is just shy of 30 million copies sold since arriving in early 2017 as a Switch launch title. Only three Switch games have sold more copies than Breath of the Wild: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (31.09 million), Animal Crossing: New Horizons (42.21 million) and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (53.79 million).
Zelda is one of Nintendo's best original franchises. The first game was created by Japanese designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka, and arrived in Japan on February 21, 1986, as The Hyrule Fantasy: Legend of Zelda. It came to North America in 1987 as The Legend of Zelda.
As of March 2023, Nintendo has sold more than 130 million Zelda series games.
Related reading: Overclocking the Switch can boost performance in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Tears of the Kingdom is available in digital and physical versions starting at $69.99 for the base game. Nintendo also has a limited edition OLED Switch modeled after the game for $359.99. Those looking for even more Zelda-themed gear might want to have a look at the Tears of the Kingdom Edition Switch Pro Controller and Switch Carrying Case.
Have you had a chance to play the new Zelda game yet? If so, does it live up to your expectations and the glowing reviews it has received thus far?