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Watch Dogs 2 launch massively down from WD1 in UK.
- Thread starter Obliterator
- Start date
Scientist Supreme!
Banned
It also didn't hurt WD. There were many more factors than a black main character which resulted in these numbers.
So did the original red steel. Then again, most of the red steel creatives are on for honor now. Probably some aspects of watch dogs might carry over to something new. But if the sales are abysmal, the chances of a third are really low.
orthodoxy1095
Banned
Do we have any modern open-world games set outside of the USA besides say Yakuza and Sleeping Dogs?
Jarod McChicken
Member
So no Killing Floor 2 at all of course... such a shame Tripwire does not have any marketing power, the game is pure fun.
Most of its sales came from the current gen + PC. Even if you remove the other 3 platforms, the drop is still significant.
Destiny is a total different story because all the expansion have made very good number and the fanbase is happy with the game (the total opposite for the division, aka the destiny killer lolz ).
FFXV and Pokemon are the last major releases right? I know TLG is next month but that seems to be quite niche. Curious to see how those two fare.
UK release numbers on Mondays.
flaxknuckles
Member
Yeah but Ass Creed Syndicate sold low as hell too and they are still making another one. Red Steel didn't sell nearly as well as Watch Dogs 1.
I don't think so. But even in the realm of US cities its always the same, NYC LA or SF.
Opus Angelorum
Member
EventHorizon
Member
Watch Dogs is a somewhat fundamentally flawed concept. It's a superhero game with lame superpowers. It's not that such an idea couldn't be fun to play. It's that it is very hard to market it. As a result it comes off as a pale GTA pretender.
YianGaruga
Banned
Oh I'm perfectly happy with the games that are out there, I know where to find great mid-budget stuff. Nintendo, handhelds, japanese games, indies.
I wouldn't miss the current western AAA space and would be curious as to what would replace it though.
Yeah, but AC is a long running franchise. Its almost 10 years old, while Watch dogs is only 2.
There is more interest from a company standpoint to try to save something that sold well in the past, opposed to something that doesn't and it still young.
DeadlyParasite
Member
I have less money than I used to, I didn't like the first game and in general I'm getting annoyed by open world titles.
I have no reason to get the game, no matter how much it has improved.
I have no reason to get the game, no matter how much it has improved.
chromatic9
Member
Titanfall 1 opened at No 1 with around 900k in the US and Titanfall 2 opened at 9th and has to be around 50-150k. This is not a UK thing, we just get weekly reports from UK is all. TF2 has been 22nd and 23rd on most played Xbox One games.
As for Watch Dogs, its quite similar to Titanfall, incredible hype from events and shows before the consoles launched that is hard to replicate and seemingly next to no marketing dollars for the sequels.
Only thing I've seen for Watch Dogs 2 is a couple of dull dev playthroughs. Watch Dogs 1 well its not even several orders of magnitude more.
As for Watch Dogs, its quite similar to Titanfall, incredible hype from events and shows before the consoles launched that is hard to replicate and seemingly next to no marketing dollars for the sequels.
Only thing I've seen for Watch Dogs 2 is a couple of dull dev playthroughs. Watch Dogs 1 well its not even several orders of magnitude more.
AnthonypUK
Member
I also think the marketing spends on these games is a reason why they're down (not the only reason)
with Titanfall 2 and Watchdogs, there was probably half or a quarter the marketing for both titles, i think that has affected the sales.
Games like No Mans Sky, Mafia 3, Uncharted 4e tc got their sales, but also had massive marketing campaigns here in the UK.
Thats one reason Destiny 2 will do well, Activision, will market the shit out of it.
Also interesting that two fo the biggest bombs WD and TF both had massive first party marketing deals - Sony and Microsoft both helped hype them up, and people ask why companies do marketing deals.
with Titanfall 2 and Watchdogs, there was probably half or a quarter the marketing for both titles, i think that has affected the sales.
Games like No Mans Sky, Mafia 3, Uncharted 4e tc got their sales, but also had massive marketing campaigns here in the UK.
Thats one reason Destiny 2 will do well, Activision, will market the shit out of it.
Also interesting that two fo the biggest bombs WD and TF both had massive first party marketing deals - Sony and Microsoft both helped hype them up, and people ask why companies do marketing deals.
StrongBlackVine
Banned
Between this and the recent failure of Assassin's Creed Ubisoft might actually be motivated get creative with their software development and stop using virtual tourism as a crutch. Also I didn't actively root the game fail, but I can't say I'm disappointed.
DarkLordMalik
Member
Crossing Eden, post if you are okay!
sammyCYBORG
Member
Yeah, I agree. They should avoid black characters after San Andreas tanked so much. That was a big warning sign.
I thought it would do better but not unexpected. Like people say the first burnt a lot of people, for me I was open to giving it a second chance but as soon as that marketing started... it was just embarrassing. It felt like try hard the game, when you have a show like Mr Robot and the cyberwarfare you have today, you a fantastic concept to be made around. Instead they played to the lowest common denominator.
Lol @ Jim and his Status Quo Warriors jab. I'm stealing that.
Down or not, i'm loving it 8)
Maybe now's the time publishers look beyond Q4 to release their titles....For me personally i'd love the whole year to be averaged out rather than be Q4 heavy....No lulls...always something just around the corner....titles given a bit more time to eek out a good performance....
Maybe now's the time publishers look beyond Q4 to release their titles....For me personally i'd love the whole year to be averaged out rather than be Q4 heavy....No lulls...always something just around the corner....titles given a bit more time to eek out a good performance....
Triggerhappytel
Member
They're certainly going to be up by a significant proportion since WD1 launched, but nowhere near enough to make up for this massive drop in retail sales. It's probably in the 30% region, putting the total still around 115,000 for the UK. And also, we get fucked on digital pricing here in the UK so I wouldn't be surprised if the actual digital percentage for UK download stores is a lot lower than 30%. That figure seems to be standard for North America, where digital pricing matches retail stores. It's fucking £55 on PSN, while it can be bought online for £40 (probably cheaper) and on the high street for £42.
I knew it wouldn't sell as well as the first, but the fact the sales are so abysmal kinda sucks. I understand why it is, the "hispter hacker tone" is pretty niche and feels like a parody. I was pretty against it, but it did win me over eventually as I played.
Its a lighter tone, and I think that works better for an open world game.
But still, I totally understand if people are turned off by the games tone. Despite all the improvements to the game, I knew from the get go the tone would probably the make or break in terms of reviews and probably sales.
Retail sales have been up every month since Brexit - if videogame sales are down it's not because of Brexit.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/retail-sales-surge-october-brexit-a7422256.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38011477
YianGaruga
Banned
US data will be interesting. I could imagine this SF hacker hipster style being a much harder sell in Europe.
it's actually higher than 30% in America. The average worldwide is 30 brought down by places like the UK.
This is me. Liked the first one and was buying the second until I saw it. Way too hipster for me.
It's just that crashes are usually bad for an industry. Not some cleansing force of good.
The big money parts of an industry will always be much more cynical and safe unless it's really small (which it was during the first few crashes).
GinoFelino
Member
Just came in here to say I told you so, and then leave in a really cool way without looking back at you again.
the_milkybar_kid
Member
I'm getting this for myself for Christmas but waiting on a sale.
byron_hinson
Member
Perhaps the press making it clear online was disabled at launch rightly made people think about holding off.
EASTC0AST_GH05T
Member
Well after buying the first one at launch and being let down I told myself there is no way I am buying WD2.
Possumowner
Member
Personally think that's a shame,the original was poor on so many levels,while the sequel is a huge improvement over it.Oh well,it is what it is.Doubt a third will appear,unless US/Worldwide numbers are strong
Triggerhappytel
Member
I really don't think Destiny 2 will get hit by this trend of sequels performing below par. It has a very loyal fanbase and seems to have really strong player retention. Also, the expansions seem to have been pretty successful so far.
Look man, I'm beginning to feel there's no point in me being here any more. Any time I go into a topic to reply I scroll down and see a comment from you, and it's basically the same thing I was going to say but articulated better.
Watch Dogs 1 was two and a half years ago.
ElBoxyBrown
Banned
And how many games have starred black protagonist in open world settings since then?
Second post nails it. It's not a huge surprise, the good reviews will mean it will have legs.
Pokemon Sun/Moon is Nintendo's most preordered game ever and they already shipped 10mil copies to retailers, so it seems their holiday will be quite successful - WW at least. Will be interesting to see how it fairs in GB specifically tho, I agree.
CriterionDog
Member
It's a shame. This game blows the first one away.
This was me
The entire flair of WD2 just sounded like a desperate attempt of appealing to teenagers or the "lol so random!" audience
Like an old guy who dress up as a 16 year old boy and say "hey fellow teens"
It was extremely unappealing to me
ElBoxyBrown
Banned
If Watch Dogs 2 has proven anything it's that "hipster" truly has lost all meaning.
I watched Angry Joe look at skinny jeans and he went on to complain about it being way too "hipster".
Triggerhappytel
Member
Just came in here to say I told you so, and then leave in a really cool way without looking back at you again.
Yeah man, I'm really surprised by this, so please feel free to get all in my face with the 'told you so's. I know we didn't make an avatar bet, but if you can find a good pick of Seagal taking someone down and squeeze that down to a little thumbnail image I'm happy to wear it until Christmas.
I'm pretty sure there would be a third regardless of how this one did. Watch Dogs 1 sold over 10 million copies which is incredible for a new IP, and even if WD2's sales are ultimately disappointing they would probably make a third game leaning heavily on the more serious ImcyberBatman po-faced nonsense of the first game.
You might have a point if this was the only big sequel to crash and burn, but almost every major AAA sequel has opened down on its predecessor in the UK over the last year. I doubt the race of the protagonist has anything to do with its sales outside of a small but vocal racist corner of the internet.
icecold1983
Member
their constant fake footage trailers