Game Sales
Ongoing coverage on Game Sales.
Latest coverage
Crimson Desert Surpasses 5 Million Copies Sold Worldwide
Pearl Abyss announced that its open-world action-adventure game, Crimson Desert, has sold over 5 million copies worldwide. The game, praised for its visuals and combat, is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PC, and Mac. Pearl Abyss also previewed upcoming updates based on player feedback.
Engagement Ring
Despite the release of the Terran Armada expansion, Starfield's player engagement and overall fortunes have not seen a significant turnaround. The article discusses the continued struggles of the game to regain momentum in the market.
Call of Duty Could Be Removed From Game Pass This Year – Rumor
A rumor suggests that Microsoft may remove the Call of Duty franchise from its Game Pass subscription service later this year. This comes despite the franchise's significant revenue generation for Xbox, including Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. The decision could be influenced by the performance of recent titles and the overall strategy for the franchise's future.
It Takes Two Hits 30M Sales as Hazelight Studios Rewrites Co-op Gaming’s Story
Hazelight Studios announced that their cooperative title It Takes Two has surpassed 30 million sales, while their newer game Split Fiction has sold 7 million copies. These milestones highlight the commercial viability and cultural impact of story-driven cooperative gaming experiences, challenging industry norms that often favor solo or competitive play.
Crimson Desert is still the best-selling new game on Steam after 2 weeks, and its user reviews have jumped to 85% positive as more players get past the weak opening
Crimson Desert has become the best-selling new game on Steam two weeks after its release, with user reviews improving to 85% positive. Developer Pearl Abyss has addressed player feedback regarding controls and mount permanence through updates, contributing to the game's resurgence in popularity and sales.
Black Ops 7 may earn about $30,000 for each negative review
This article discusses the potential revenue generated from negative reviews for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, suggesting that each negative review could earn approximately $30,000. It highlights how data can be used in the gaming industry for sales and marketing purposes.
MindsEye Sales "Doubling Almost Weekly", CEO Claims
Build a Rocket Boy CEO Mark Gerhard claims that sales for the game MindsEye are doubling weekly and that the game is now receiving positive reviews, despite a historically poor launch and mixed reception on Steam. Gerhard alleges that negative reception was orchestrated and that authorities are assisting with an investigation into the matter.
Crimson Desert’s Turnaround Led To A “Whoopsie Moment” for Investors as Share Prices Surge
Crimson Desert has seen a significant surge in its stock price for developer Pearl Abyss, following initial poor reception and subsequent fixes. The game has achieved 3 million copies sold, leading to a notable increase in investor confidence, a phenomenon Dr. Serkan Toto notes is common in Asian markets.
Triple-A Game Budgets Now Over $300 Million, It’s Claimed
Game development budgets for AAA titles are reportedly exceeding $300 million, not including marketing costs, according to journalist Jason Schreier. This necessitates millions of sales just to break even, placing immense pressure on game sales figures. Games like Concord and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 are cited as examples of high-budget titles.
Marathon’s Player Count CCU estimates revealed – and its nowhere near as dead as you think
Despite initial concerns, Bungie's extraction shooter Marathon has maintained a stable player base since its early March launch, according to data analytics firm Alinea Analytics. While not a massive breakout hit, the game retains a dedicated hardcore PvP audience, with average daily active users holding steady and significant player engagement beyond 50 and 100 hours on PC. Console player engagement on PlayStation 5 and Xbox is also respectable, though lower than PC.
Crimson Desert – Why Are Millions Addicted Despite Such a Divided Response?
Despite a divided critical response and mixed user reviews, Crimson Desert has achieved over two million sales within 48 hours of launch. The article explores the reasons behind its strong initial performance and continued player engagement, citing effective marketing, compelling exploration and combat mechanics, and the appeal of overcoming in-game challenges as key factors.
Crimson Desert’s Launch Proves Hype Can Cut Both Ways
Crimson Desert's launch demonstrates the double-edged nature of hype, driving strong sales and player engagement but also leading to mixed reviews and a significant drop in Pearl Abyss' stock price. Despite initial criticisms regarding story and controls, early sales figures and a trend towards more positive user reviews suggest a potentially strong overall performance for the game.
As Sony Mulls Its PC Games Business, Death Stranding 2 Looks To Be A Hit
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has achieved strong concurrent player numbers on PC, surpassing the peaks of its predecessor and other PlayStation PC ports. This success comes as Sony reportedly reevaluates its PC games strategy, potentially shifting back towards console exclusives due to factors including Microsoft's upcoming Xbox console.
Dev breaks down in tears when 4 years of work are rewarded with $250,000 earnings in a week: 'I don't know why…
Solo indie developer Cakez became emotional on stream after his game, Tangy HD, earned $250,000 in its first week. The game, which Cakez has been developing for four years, has received overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam and gained significant traction after a clip of his reaction went viral.
'Imagine Being Such a Loser': We've Hit Rock Bottom with Website Dedicated to 'Failing' Games
A new website called Flopathon has emerged, dedicated to tracking Steam player counts and labeling games as 'flops' in an antagonistic manner. While it presents data similar to SteamDB, its approach is described as mean-spirited and not neutral. The article argues that Steam player data is only a fraction of a game's overall success and that such a site can skew perceptions.
Business and Finance
ZeniMax Media, the parent company of id Software, has filed a new trademark for the Quake franchise. Separately, Valve reported that over 5,800 games on Steam earned more than $100,000 in revenue during 2025.
Steam Tower Defense Fest Launches Tomorrow — Time to Build the Ultimate Digital Fortress
Steam's Tower Defense Fest is set to launch tomorrow, March 9th, featuring sales and showcases for the genre. The event aims to highlight the evolution of tower defense games, from classic mechanics to modern blends with strategy and puzzle elements. It provides an opportunity for players to discover new titles and purchase wishlist items at discounted prices.
Flop FPS Highguard's Stats Show Steam Concurrents Are Just One Piece of the Puzzle
The failed FPS Highguard's player data indicates that PlayStation 5 was its largest platform, challenging the industry's heavy reliance on Steam concurrent player statistics. Despite better performance on PS5, the game is shutting down on March 12th due to an insufficient audience across all platforms.
Xbox nyckel till framtiden – gör bättre spel
The article analyzes Microsoft's challenges in making the Xbox console relevant again, contrasting its struggles with Sony's success in game sales and exclusive titles. It highlights Xbox's past strengths with games like Halo and Gears of War, and its current need to focus on developing compelling first-party titles rather than relying solely on services like Game Pass.
What 10,000 Reddit comments reveal about the adult gaming backlog
An analysis of over 10,000 Reddit comments reveals that adult gamers typically own 100-150 unplayed games, experiencing guilt due to a lack of time to play them. Factors like digital sales, subscription services, and increased game lengths contribute to growing backlogs, with Steam being the primary platform associated with this phenomenon. The article suggests managing, rather than clearing, the backlog is the healthier approach for players.
