Watch Dogs 2 is a damned good game – but it’s not really doing all that well at retail. According to stats, sales of the infinitely more entertaining sequel are flatter than the numbers Watch Dogs had at debut. In the UK, first week sales of Watch Dogs hit 380 000 units sold. A bit of sleuthing puts first week sales of the sequel at a much lower, sobering 80 000.
Of course, a drop-off was expected, but not one quite this big. There are many reasons for the lower sales. The PC version had yet to release, and this time around, the game wasn’t released on the legacy consoles, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
It’s also likely that many of the 4 million people who bought Watch Dogs felt a little burned by the game, which many thought was underwhelming – especially after that whole downgradegate saga. There are likely other factors – like the rise of digital, the increasing cost of games and the fact that there are so many other damned good games out right now.
Ubisoft has acknowledged the game’s lower sales – hoping that the sequel has long legs.
“We’re incredibly happy with critics’ and player” very positive reception of Watch Dogs 2, which should bolster support for the long-term success of the game. It is true that first-day and first-week sales for a number of big games, including Watch Dogs 2 and titles from our competitors, are comparatively lower than previous versions in previous years.
However, we expect both week-two and week-three sales to be above traditional sales patterns. There is a trend toward games, especially high-quality games, having stronger and longer “tails” as favorable reviews and word of mouth spread. Watch Dogs 2 is already considered a tremendous addition to the open-world action adventure series and we’re confident that millions of players are going to love it.”
And if there’s a company right now that’s proven that games can have long legs, it’s Ubisoft. They’ve managed to get Rainbow Six Siege – released to critical acclaim but poor sales – to peak at over ten million active users. They’re one of the few publishers who aren’t as reliant on the pre-order culture, saying that they’re “not completely crucial for the success of the game.”
Watch Dogs has become yet another blockbuster game sequel that’s not been able to match the sales successes of its forebear, like Titanfall 2 and even the latest Call of Duty. Battlefield 1 is living up to its sales expectations, even if it is actually selling fewer copies than Infinite Warfare overall.
Last Updated: November 22, 2016
Andre Fourie
November 22, 2016 at 10:33
Well, If your MP is broken AF, this is to be expected.
Geoffrey Tim
November 22, 2016 at 10:35
the MP is unnecessary, tbh. Game is gold.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 22, 2016 at 10:37
Broken MP is the least of there worries. The game still needs to launch on PC and we all know how that goes
Kromas Ryder
November 22, 2016 at 10:37
I would be suprised if they sell 5 PC copies.
Lord Chaos
November 22, 2016 at 10:40
*their
Had to do it
Ottokie
November 22, 2016 at 10:41
*their’re
Andre Fourie
November 22, 2016 at 10:43
Geez, Otto. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d39f23d5cd8658c28dea41e6a22d593f909bc1a1d6125cd3cb3a5ad58de90585.jpg
Lord Chaos
November 22, 2016 at 10:44
Stop hurting my brain. 🙁
Andre Fourie
November 22, 2016 at 10:43
XD
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 22, 2016 at 10:44
there their dare, it’s gonna be allright
Lord Chaos
November 22, 2016 at 10:47
I hope you smash your small toe into the corner of a table…
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 22, 2016 at 10:51
A table what?
A tablecloth?
A tablespoon?
A table rag?
*Runs
Lord Chaos
November 22, 2016 at 10:53
A table of Raid0 😛
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 22, 2016 at 10:53
Hahahaha Oh hell, I’m still cleaning that mess up.
Andre Fourie
November 22, 2016 at 10:54
Like the Doom pastor in the news. XD
Andre Fourie
November 22, 2016 at 11:11
Its actually little toe…………………… 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛
Avithar
November 22, 2016 at 10:54
Hopefully the PC version is not as broken as Batman was…
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 22, 2016 at 11:19
Hopefully
Avithar
November 22, 2016 at 12:34
dreams are for free after all lol
Kromas Ryder
November 22, 2016 at 10:37
“It’s also likely that many of the 4 million people who bought Watch Dogs felt a little burned by the game,..”
This and the fact that they blamed everyone but themselves for the PC downgrade and all the bugs and then had the nerve to say the game was a huge success and never even fixed all the bugs and the stupid 38 different editions.
Basically they told their fans to do unspeakable things to themselves. And that is why I hope Vivendi gets the hostile takeover done soon.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 22, 2016 at 10:38
Rainbow Six Siege isn’t the Rainbow Six game most people wanted. Also maybe release some games in June and not everything at once this time of the year
Andre Fourie
November 22, 2016 at 10:41
That game has a solid following (me included every now and then). There are even groups on facebook, and you should see those guys go on about that game. They live for it.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 22, 2016 at 10:44
Sure it is, because people don’t care about SP anymore, it’s just MP MP MP MP MP from the morning to the night and to hell with fans of the franchise
Andre Fourie
November 22, 2016 at 10:45
I cranked up my 360 and played Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. OMW, such fun!!!! Awesome game. They shoudl remaster that shit.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 22, 2016 at 10:46
*should
See I can also play this game 😛
Andre Fourie
November 22, 2016 at 10:48
LOOOOOOOOL!!!!!!
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 22, 2016 at 10:47
Yes remaster it. But hopefully they don’t go full retard like Activision did with the MW remaster and bundle it with a new game for $80 or more
Ir0nseraph
November 22, 2016 at 10:46
Rainbow Six was one of my favourite franchises, but they ****** that up for me.
Wildlands better be good.
Andre Fourie
November 22, 2016 at 10:48
Yep. Looking forward to Wildlands.
Andre Fourie
November 22, 2016 at 10:42
Good Point. Everyone seems to aim for the Xmas market.
Ir0nseraph
November 22, 2016 at 10:42
Yeah November is way to tough on the wallet, with high prices and some Big titles out the dogs didn’t have a chance.
Ir0nseraph
November 22, 2016 at 10:44
Survival on that other Ubi games is finally on the PS4 on the 20th December, now just need some destiny Light or some friends to help us put the raid behind us so that we can get ready.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 22, 2016 at 10:45
Time’s running out
Ir0nseraph
November 22, 2016 at 10:53
Seems Heroic strikes is in my future to break this 367 stranglehold 🙁
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 22, 2016 at 10:54
Archon forge drops legendaries as well. We should try one or two at least. Hopefully randoms joins and then it’s a lot easier
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 22, 2016 at 10:54
*Fixed.. f**k
Ir0nseraph
November 22, 2016 at 10:56
This is the only issue I have with online only games without bot filling, if you’re a little late to the party the Grind is real.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 22, 2016 at 11:19
Yeah, just like the Division 😛
Ir0nseraph
November 22, 2016 at 11:28
Well if the patch didn’t fix it, back to overwatch ? what else is left in the co-op library ?
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 22, 2016 at 11:56
Guess we’ll need to buy Titanfall 2 then 🙁
Ir0nseraph
November 24, 2016 at 08:43
NO
We still have borderlands , and much more to be honest, Titanfall 2 must be very cheap for that short campaign.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 24, 2016 at 09:02
Agreed
Andre Fourie
November 22, 2016 at 10:47
PS4 only getting it 20 December? Geez, it rolls out today on PC and XBone.
Ir0nseraph
November 22, 2016 at 10:48
Yip we received some Destiny goodness and got shanked on The division, gaming you know.
Andre Fourie
November 22, 2016 at 10:49
That actually blows. Don’t know why they do that. They did it with Underground as well.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 22, 2016 at 10:49
We have Uncharted 4 survival to keep us busy till then XD
Ir0nseraph
November 22, 2016 at 10:51
Is it a free add on ?.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 22, 2016 at 10:53
Haven’t seen anyone mentioning it as paid DLC yet… I hope it’s free
Ir0nseraph
November 22, 2016 at 10:53
Yeah me too, doubt it but hoping 🙂
Geoffrey Tim
November 22, 2016 at 11:03
It’s better than what people wanted. 🙂 (Honestly)
Andre Fourie
November 22, 2016 at 11:06
I agree. I think we got more than I expected.
Andre Fourie
November 22, 2016 at 11:06
And all the free DLC……..*gushes
Craig "CrAiGiSh" Dodd
November 22, 2016 at 13:10
Please dont suck on PC … PLEASE!!!