How Many Copies Did Pokemon Platinum Sell?
Pokemon Platinum sold approximately 7.60 million copies worldwide as of 2022. Released in 2008 for the Nintendo DS, it was a major commercial success in the context of the Pokemon franchise, especially for a third version title.
In this detailed guide, we dive deep into Platinum‘s sales performance, its significance as an enhanced follow-up to Pokemon Diamond & Pearl, and why it remains a fan-favorite entry in the long-running RPG series.
Introduction
Before we break down the sales numbers, let‘s recap Platinum‘s place within the core Pokemon series:
- Released in 2008 for Nintendo DS
- Enhanced follow-up to 2006‘s Pokemon Diamond & Pearl
- Set in the Sinnoh region like Diamond & Pearl
- Added new areas, story elements, Pokemon formes, conveniences over Diamond & Pearl
- Included expanded regional Sinnoh Pokedex with 210 Pokemon
- Regarded by fans as the definitive Gen 4 Pokemon RPG experience
As the third installment following the paired Diamond & Pearl titles, Platinum had big shoes to fill. The original DS games ushered the franchise into full 3D with 18 million units sold, some of the highest numbers since Gold & Silver.
Could Platinum build on and surpass the successes of these predecessors? Let‘s examine how it fared.
Platinum Sales vs Diamond & Pearl
Given the numerical naming convention, you might expect Pokemon Platinum sales to outpace Diamond & Pearl. But historically third versions sell significantly less than the original paired games they follow.
Here are the lifetime sales numbers for Pokemon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum:
| Game | Release Date | Units Sold |
|---|---|---|
| Pokemon Diamond | 2006 | ~11.5M |
| Pokemon Pearl | 2006 | ~11.5M |
| Pokemon Platinum | 2008 | ~7.6M |
We see a sizeable difference of around 10 million more units for Diamond & Pearl combined. This sales split is consistent with previous Pokemon generations.
For example, Pokemon Yellow sold 11M units vs 46M for Red & Blue, while Crystal sold 6.4M vs 23M for Gold & Silver. Later third titles followed suit – Emerald (7M vs Ruby/Sapphire‘s 16M), Ultra Sun/Moon (8.7M vs SM‘s 16M).
As Incremental enhancements, third installments predominantly attract existing fans rather than new buyers. Their sales tend to rely largely on residual excitement from the original paired versions.
Still, 7.6 million units is great for a single release. Among Nintendo DS games, Platinum was the 9th best-selling title on the platform.
Platinum‘s Performance Against Other Pokemon Games
How does Pokemon Platinum‘s 7.6 million sales stack up against other mainline Pokemon RPGs? Let‘s compare:
| Game | Release Year | Units Sold |
|---|---|---|
| Pokemon Red/Blue | 1996 | 46M |
| Pokemon Gold/Silver | 1999 | 23M |
| Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire | 2002 | 16M |
| Pokemon Diamond/Pearl | 2006 | 18M |
| Pokemon Black/White | 2010 | 15.6M |
| Pokemon X/Y | 2013 | 16.4M |
| Pokemon Sun/Moon | 2016 | 16M |
| Pokemon Platinum | 2008 | 7.6M |
| Pokemon Sword/Shield | 2019 | 22.5M |
We see Platinum outsold predecessors like Crystal and Emerald while performing respectably against flagship debuts like Black & White. It even exceeded the more recent X/Y and Sun/Moon generations.
Considering it had the sales split working against it as a third version, Platinum achieved solid numbers here.
Platinum vs Other Nintendo DS Pokemon Games
Focusing just on the Nintendo DS platform, here is how Platinum compared against other Pokemon RPGs on the handheld:
| Game | Release Year | Units Sold |
|---|---|---|
| Pokemon Diamond & Pearl | 2006 | 18M |
| Pokemon Platinum | 2008 | 7.6M |
| Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver | 2009 | 12.7M |
| Pokemon Black & White | 2010 | 15.6M |
| Pokemon Black 2 & White 2 | 2012 | 8M |
Once again, we see the third version sales slump in effect. But Platinum still managed to outsell the direct sequels Black 2 & White 2. Among these DS games, only Diamond/Pearl and Black/White surpassed it in lifetime units moved.
Platinum Sales in Japan vs Overseas
Pokemon‘s homeland of Japan accounts for a major portion of game sales across the franchise. Here is the regional split for Platinum:
- Japan – 3.17 million
- North America – 3.56 million
- Other Regions – 0.87 million
Nearly 42% of Platinum‘s global sales came from Japan – a substantial figure compared to many franchises. In its 2008 launch week, Platinum sold over 562,000 units in Japan – the biggest domestic opening week for Pokemon that year.
In North America, it had the fifth largest launch month sales on the DS according to NPD Group.
Why Platinum Had Lower Sales Than Diamond & Pearl
Given the popularity of Pokemon, what factors led to the nearly 10 million gap between Platinum and its Gen 4 predecessors? Several reasons contributed:
Diminishing Returns – As third installments, Platinum relied more on existing fans rather than attracting new audiences. Their incremental improvements rarely translate into matching initial paired game hype and sales.
Franchise Fatigue – After successive years of Pokemon RPG releases, some franchise fatigue may have set in among buyers in 2008-2009.
No New Region/Pokedex – Unlike sequels, Platinum did not add a brand new region or significantly expand the Pokedex – disincentivizing some players.
Arrival of Competition – 2008 saw major Nintendo releases like Mario Kart Wii, Smash Bros Brawl and Wii Fit which stole some attention.
Similar Graphics – The visuals were only marginally improved rather than a huge generational leap over Diamond & Pearl.
Lower Marketing Push – As an incremental title, marketing budgets tend to be lower compared to debut paired versions.
Platinum‘s Enduring Popularity Among Fans
While it did not match Diamond & Pearl commercially, Pokemon Platinum remains a fan-favorite and perhaps the defining Sinnoh experience. Its reception and popularity over the years speaks to its significance.
Reviews
Platinum earned strong reviews praising its gameplay improvements and expansions:
- IGN – 8.5/10
- GameSpot – 8.5/10
- Game Informer – 9/10
Fan Reception
In fan polls, Platinum consistently ranks among the top Pokemon games:
- Ranked #3 in TheGamer‘s audience poll of best Pokemon games.
- Voted #5 in WatchMojo‘s Top 10 Pokemon Games list.
Legacy
Many of Platinum‘s new features became franchise staples:
- WiFi Plaza – laid groundwork for future multiplayer hubs like Festival Plaza
- VS Recorder – built upon in the Pokedex or video recording features in newer games
- Gym Leader/Elite Four rematches – became recurring endgame content
- Expanded regional dex – set precedent for larger Pokedex in future generations
- Battle Frontier – remains one of the most popular postgame battle facilities
Lasting Value
Over a decade later, used Platinum cartridges retain solid value due to nostalgia and scarcity:
- Loose cartridges – ~$60
- Complete copies – ~$100+
- Sealed games – ~$300
This lasting enthusiasm highlights Platinum‘s importance within the Pokemon franchise.
Gameplay Refinements That Shaped the Sinnoh Experience
As an enhanced third version, some of Platinum‘s biggest contributions came through meaningful gameplay refinements that improved the Sinnoh journey.
Faster Pacing – Diamond & Pearl faced criticism for slow pacing. Platinum addressed this through faster movement, less cutscenes and UI conveniences.
Expanded Regional Dex – Added over 60 more Pokemon including Legendaries like Heatran and Cresselia for greater variety.
Move Tutor Additions – Introduced several new tutor moves per Pokemon for more moveset options.
Battle Area Updates – Added multi-type Gym Leader and rival rematches, plus the intense Battle Frontier postgame challenge.
Distortion World – The mysterious new area housing the Legendary Giratina was a memorable addition.
Story and Character Improvements – Team Galactic and rival plots gained more depth and intricacy compared to Diamond & Pearl.
These thoughtful refinements built upon the strong foundations of Gen 4 to deliver the definitive Sinnoh adventure. Platinum exemplified what a third version should be.
Platinum‘s Sales and Reception in Summary
To summarize key points on Pokemon Platinum‘s performance:
- Sold approximately 7.6 million lifetime units worldwide as of 2022
- Fourth highest selling Nintendo DS Pokemon game behind Diamond/Pearl, Black/White and HeartGold/SoulSilver
- Outsold predecessors like Emerald and Crystal in the third version sales slump
- Strong reception from critics (avg. review score of ~9/10) and fans (Top 5 in polls)
- Refinements and additions made it the pinnacle Gen 4 experience
- Enduring popularity makes it one of the more valued Pokemon games among collectors
While not matching Diamond & Pearl‘s commercial success, Platinum did well for a third version and is remembered fondly by the Pokemon community. For many fans, it defined the story and world of Gen 4.
The Bottom Line
In closing, Pokemon Platinum achieved impressive sales of nearly 8 million units as an incremental third version entry. This performance outpaced predecessors in its niche. Reviews and reactions showed Platinum perfected the Sinnoh experience.
Its many enhancements, from convenient mechanics to story expansions, made it the go-to Gen 4 Pokemon game for fans. Over a decade later, Platinum remains sought after for its high replay value and nostalgia. All in all, it fulfilled its role as the definitive Gen 4 title.
So while it did not sell as much as Diamond or Pearl, Platinum consolidates the highlights of Gen 4 into what many consider the best Sinnoh journey. And for that, 7.6 million copies is pretty solid.