>>45297567Kalos had the marketing rush of the first time anyone got a main-line game in full 3D with the sprinkle of KANTOOOOOOO pandering to get gen wunners at least somewhat interested in picking the game up. Alola was post GO hype but it was also at the very end of the 3DS lifecycle where everyone know the Switch was around the corner. Normies were inclined to just wait for the next game on the Switch instead because it can come in again with that "wow" factor of Pokemon on the big screen for them to clap and shit their pants over.
The key factors that sell an initial generation are very petty, it's mainly based off the attachment rate for the particular platform it launched on, the marketable "wow" factor, and the point in that platform's lifecycle.
Gen4 sold more than Gen3 because it was coming off the rebound from the Pokemania burst, the DS itself being insanely popular on it's own and the marketable "wow" factor of the first time you could play Pokemon online. It probably would have sold even more if the DS wasn't a pirate's dream with how easy to use and common flashcarts were. Meanwhile Gen5 came out at the worst time, at the end of the DS where people were looking forward to the 3DS and with no real "wow" factor to sell and in particular a very low point in Pokemon popularity in japan with kids being more hyped for Yokai Watch.
Likewise, Gen6 was "bro 3D wow" which was something people wanted for years where Gen7 was more iterative overall. The big reason why Gen8 is selling is because "Bro its on your TV for once" and that the Switch itself has insane attachment rate.
The key thing now tho, is that they've ran out of easy features to use as a "wow" factor, if Gen9 is more iterative like Gen 5 or 7, you will likely see a downward trend in popularity again as normies get bored.
