Three First Print Copies of Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow Sell for $2 Million in Second-Largest Video Game Transaction Ever

August 7, 2026 - 01:30

Three factory-sealed, first-print copies of Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow have just changed hands in a private transaction valued at two million dollars. The buyer is the owner of the Dubai Collection, a major private archive known for holding some of the highest-graded video games and trading cards anywhere. This deal now stands as the second-largest single video game transaction ever recorded, trailing only the sale of a rare Super Mario Bros. cartridge that went for two million dollars back in 2021.

The three Game Boy titles, all from the original 1998 North American release, were graded by Wata Games. Each copy received a near-perfect rating of 9.8 out of 10, with the Red and Blue versions also earning an A+ seal rating for their pristine shrink wrap. The Yellow cartridge, which features Pikachu on the label, was rated 9.6, still an exceptionally high mark for a game that is over two decades old.

What makes these copies so special is not just their condition but their provenance. They come from the very first production run, which means they lack the "Players Choice" label and feature the original artwork without any later revisions. For serious collectors, that first-print status is a huge factor. The seller, a private collector who had held onto the games since the late 1990s, decided to part with them quietly rather than through a public auction.

The Dubai Collection, which has been building its library over the last few years, already owns several other record-breaking titles, including a near-mint copy of Super Mario 64 and a sealed Legend of Zelda. This latest acquisition solidifies its position as one of the most important video game archives in existence. While the exact price breakdown for each individual game was not disclosed, the total sum places this deal firmly in the upper echelon of retro gaming history.