Key Takeaways
1. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach had a strong start in the UK but saw a 66% drop in launch sales compared to the original game.
2. Ampere projects global sales of 1.4 million copies for Death Stranding 2 by the end of June, indicating reliance on digital purchases.
3. Sales figures for PS5 titles are not disclosed by Sony, leading to reliance on estimates from companies like Ampere.
4. The digital gaming market has grown significantly since the first game’s launch, with the sequel being a top seller on the PS Store in North America.
5. A Dutch consumer protection agency is taking legal action against Sony for alleged monopolistic behavior regarding digital game sales.
Some gamers have voiced worries after the first sales figures for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach were revealed. In the UK, the project by Hideo Kojima led the sales charts, yet its launch sales fell by 66% compared to the previous game. It’s worth noting that the data only counted physical disc sales. Ampere has now projected that by the end of June, Death Stranding 2 is expected to have sold 1.4 million copies globally. These numbers indicate a strong start, but they also highlight how many new PS5 titles rely heavily on digital purchases.
Caution Advised
When the UK sales figures for Death Stranding 2 appeared, Christopher Dring from The Game Business recommended taking a careful approach. Since the first Death Stranding launched in 2019, the appeal of digital gaming has grown immensely. Indeed, North American players have just discovered that the sequel was the top seller in June on the PS Store. Even though the standard edition came out on June 26th, it’s already sitting at fourth place in Sony’s UK rankings.
Sales Numbers Unavailable
Sadly, Sony does not disclose exact sales figures for PS5 titles on its platform. This leaves companies like Ampere to rely on other indicators for their estimates. The original Death Stranding achieved 5 million sales by July 2021, but this was after the PC version was released. Unless there’s an unexpected drop, the new post-apocalyptic action-adventure game seems to be on a bright path.
Digital vs. Physical
Although both physical standard and collector’s editions are on the market, the ease of buying from the PS Store is alluring. However, the rise of the digital marketplace has not been without its issues. A Dutch consumer protection agency has recently taken legal action against Sony, claiming they are engaging in monopolistic behavior. The agency is pushing for Sony to permit other retailers to offer digital PS5 games on the console. Meanwhile, collectors of games have pointed out that it’s often simpler to find significant discounts on disc versions at retail stores.
Source:
Link
Leave a Reply