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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Leak-derived figures reported by gaming outlets put the cost of the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet expansions below the reported development cost of Pokémon Legends: Arceus. The numbers suggest the DLC went well over its reported initial budget, but neither budget has been confirmed by Nintendo in the cited material.
What the reported numbers say
The comparison began with a CentroLeaks post, repeated by Insider Gaming, asserting that the combined development of The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk cost as much as making the full game Pokémon Legends: Arceus. A more detailed account of the same leak, reported by Kotaku, gives different figures:
| Item | Reported amount | What the figure represents |
|---|---|---|
| Scarlet/Violet DLC | ¥1,423 million | Leak-derived reported development cost for the two expansions together |
| Pokémon Legends: Arceus | ¥2,175 million | Leak-derived reported development cost for the full game |
| Initial Scarlet/Violet DLC plan | ¥500 million | Leak-derived reported original budget |
On those reported figures, the DLC cost about 65% of the cited Legends: Arceus amount—not the same amount. The reported final DLC cost was about 2.85 times its reported initial ¥500 million plan. These are calculations from figures Kotaku attributed to leak material, not independently verified company accounts.
Why the headline comparison is misleading
“Cost as much as” compresses two different points into one: the DLC reportedly ran far over its initial budget, while its reported final cost remained below the reported cost of Legends: Arceus. “Went over its reported budget” is better supported by the leak figures than “cost the same as the full game.”
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![Pokémon Scarlet/Pokémon Violet Expansion Pass: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero (Retail Version) Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51n-a8y2QXL._SL160_.jpg)
- Only one code for a Hisuian Zoroark can be used in either the Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game. Upon purchase of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC, an email with your code will be sent to the email address registered to your Nintendo Account. From the in-game menu, go to the Poké Portal, then select Mystery Gift, select Get with Code/Password, and then enter your code.
- The Mystery Gift option can be found within the Poké Portal menu option in the X menu after you unlock the feature in the Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game. (This occurs after about 1 to 1.5 hours of gameplay, though individual gameplay time may vary.) An internet connection and a Nintendo Account is required to redeem the item in game. A Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required. Each item can only be redeemed once.
There is also a comparability problem. The available reports do not establish whether both amounts use the same accounting definitions or include the same categories of spending, such as marketing or other production costs. Without that information, even the arithmetic comparison should be treated as an indication, not a like-for-like audited comparison. The amounts are reported in yen; converting them into another currency would require choosing an exchange rate and date and would not make the underlying figures more certain.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Are the budget and sales figures confirmed?
No confirmation appears in the cited material. Insider Gaming and Kotaku attribute the numbers to CentroLeaks posts or leak material; neither report presents a verified statement from Nintendo, Game Freak, or The Pokémon Company confirming the budgets. That does not prove the figures are false. It means their authenticity and accounting basis remain unestablished.
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The same distinction applies to the reported 6.15 million DLC downloads or copies during the first ten months. Insider Gaming and Kotaku relay that figure from the leak coverage, with Insider Gaming also reporting that it equaled 25% of game owners. It is not official Nintendo DLC sales data in the sources cited here.
Nintendo’s FY2025 investor report lists 2.679 million for Pokémon Scarlet/Pokémon Violet in a life-to-date sales table measured in thousands of units, through the report’s stated period. That is official base-game sales context; it does not confirm DLC sales or development costs.
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What players should take away
- The “as much as Legends: Arceus” wording comes from a leak account’s claim repeated by gaming outlets, not a company budget announcement.
- The more specific leak-derived figures reported by Kotaku put the DLC at ¥1,423 million and Legends: Arceus at ¥2,175 million.
- The reported original DLC budget was ¥500 million, making a major overrun the clearer claim—if the leaked figures are accurate.
- The reports do not establish document authenticity, matching cost definitions, marketing inclusion, or verified DLC sales totals.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
