Home Gaming EA still confident it’ll sell 13 million copies of Star Wars: Battlefront before financial year end

EA still confident it’ll sell 13 million copies of Star Wars: Battlefront before financial year end

2 min read
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lackoffaith

Star Wars: Battlefront! It’s a beautiful game, with visuals that’ll melt your eyeballs. It’s not the deepest of games, but it’s certainly fun to play – as long as you’re not playing it expecting the sort of depth you’d get in other shooters. It’s the wading pool of the shooter genre, I suppose.

According to early reports, sales of the game haven’t been great, with the CEO of Gamestop saying that sales of big games like Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate, Halo 5 and Battlefront not meeting sales expectations. With EA forecasting 13 million copies of Battlefront Sales before the end of the financial year, that sort of news can’t have been very pleasant for them.

Despite that, EA thinks they’re still on track to hit those numbers, especially with the impending release of the new Star Wars flick, The Force Awakens.

“[GameStop’s] comments were interesting and little bit of a surprise to us particularly as the CFO in the call then started to correct the COO as the call went on,” EA’s Peter Moore told investors at the Credit Suisse conference.

“So from our perspective I’m here to reaffirm our guidance of 13m units sold in for the fiscal year. There is no weakness that is perceptible yet in the title and I want everybody understand that based on where we think this title is, and based on the marketing beats ahead of us – in particular the movie launch over the next two weeks, we feel very comfortable we’re going to hit the guidance that we’ve given analysts, investors and Wall Street alike.”

I do think that the film will get people to buy the game, but I think 13 million copies within the next few months is perhaps reaching a little – unless he means old-in numbers, instead of sold through ones. The game is very likely also doing just fine if you consider digital purchases.

I just don’t see them hitting that target though, especially if you consider the number of people playing the game. Taking a gander at SWBstats, the numbers just keep dropping and dropping.

Just a week ago, the peak 24-hour numbers for each platform were 183,329 (PS4), 104,993(XB1) and 48,292 (PC) respectively. They’re now at 95,664, 55,014 and 22,290. That’s nearly a 50% drop off on consoles, and nearly a 54% drop off on PC.

Last Updated: December 3, 2015

87 Comments

  1. iusedtobe(a)regular

    December 3, 2015 at 15:34

    The time for hoping is gone, the time for praying is at hand because according to VGC, N4S isnt doing so well either.

    Reply

  2. miaau

    December 3, 2015 at 15:35

    Geoff, those playtime stats comparison of now and a week ago? Taken on the same day, same time, no bank or public holidays before or after each day?

    Reply

    • Geoffrey Tim

      December 3, 2015 at 15:40

      They’re 24 hour peak (so time of day is irrelevant) from November 23 (weekday, Monday after launch) Compared to today.

      Reply

      • miaau

        December 3, 2015 at 15:41

        ok, that makes sense, peak rates per day. Removes a lot of the confusion.

        Reply

  3. Hammersteyn

    December 3, 2015 at 15:36

    The game is as deep as a kiddies pool. Said it before and I’ll say it again. They thought they could get away with releasing a third of a game. The other third being a $50 season pass and the last third the SP that they just simply never bothered with despite the disbelief of gamers.

    Reply

    • Captain JJ 4x

      December 3, 2015 at 15:39

      When you say it like that it sounds like a Star Wars version of Rainbow Six.

      Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      December 3, 2015 at 15:40

      More people are playing Warframe (mandatory mention) on PC than SW Battlefront Lite.

      Reply

      • Captain JJ 4x

        December 3, 2015 at 15:41

        Maybe I should start in Warframe too just to support the numbers in spite of Battlefront

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

          December 3, 2015 at 15:46

          Do it!
          If when you get addicted, you can join our support group. We have beer and biltong

          Reply

          • Captain JJ 4x

            December 3, 2015 at 15:48

            I can do it for beer.

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            December 3, 2015 at 15:48

            Did you try the wine I recommended?

          • Captain JJ 4x

            December 3, 2015 at 15:51

            I was at a restaurant last night. So no. Had white wine too for teh heat.

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            December 3, 2015 at 15:53

            Let me know when you tried that one, best with a braai. And have an open mind

          • HvR

            December 3, 2015 at 15:59

            Everytime Gautenger recommends a wine and follows it up with be “open-mined” I start to worry.

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            December 3, 2015 at 16:01

            Well we MAKE this wine in the Western Cape, and I quite like it. And not because I get it for free (btw we make plenty other wines too, and by we, I mean the winemakers, I’m just the sysadmin)

          • HvR

            December 3, 2015 at 16:02

            The tastebuds across the Vaal just seem …… very sweet.

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            December 3, 2015 at 16:03

            Hence why I recommended this wine to him, not at all sweet

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            December 3, 2015 at 16:03

            Because he’s sweet enough already. #amirite!

          • Hammersteyn

            December 3, 2015 at 16:05

            #Bricktop

          • Captain JJ 4x

            December 3, 2015 at 16:07

            Awww

          • Captain JJ 4x

            December 3, 2015 at 16:06

            True

          • HvR

            December 3, 2015 at 16:04

            Dammit now I’m trying to figure out who your employer is.

          • Captain JJ 4x

            December 3, 2015 at 16:06

            Agreed.

      • Hammersteyn

        December 3, 2015 at 15:42

        I’m playing Warframe on console XD

        Reply

        • oVg SOmaNY games

          December 3, 2015 at 15:46

          So… only 12 999 999 sales by the end of the fist full of dollar year 😛

          Reply

      • WitWolfy

        December 4, 2015 at 07:19

        LOL I love the fact that you refer to it as “lite”.

        Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      December 3, 2015 at 16:07

      They thought gamers were morons who would buy anything – well… some of us are… but you know what I mean.

      Reply

  4. Captain JJ 4x

    December 3, 2015 at 15:38

    Oh goodie, so another Origin sale then?

    Reply

  5. Hammersteyn

    December 3, 2015 at 15:38

    Peter Moore doesn’t care about how many people are playing. He cares about sales. The movie might or might not help in this regard but if he can sell close to 13 million it’s job done and then it’s time to focus on Battlefront 2

    Reply

    • oVg SOmaNY games

      December 3, 2015 at 15:42

      All the movies will do is make the gamers SCREAM for a single player game.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        December 3, 2015 at 15:46

        Can’t wait to see how EA screws that up.

        Reply

        • oVg SOmaNY games

          December 3, 2015 at 15:48

          lol I doubt they will be allowed to do anything with the creative license from the movie. Just stock library is allowed to be used. Perfect for the kiddie pools.

          Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      December 3, 2015 at 16:08

      Peter Moore lacks a soul and a love for gaming. I’ve said it before, the man is a suit, a corporate husk!

      Reply

  6. oVg SOmaNY games

    December 3, 2015 at 15:40

    While Fallout 4 did it before the first sunset 😛

    http://i.imgur.com/jNsxpmW.gifv

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

      December 3, 2015 at 15:53

      Heh, dickbutt

      Reply

  7. Captain JJ 4x

    December 3, 2015 at 15:42

    As of this moment there are over 400,000 people playing CS:GO on Steam.
    Good luck EA.

    Reply

  8. Umar

    December 3, 2015 at 15:42

    Sales will boom after the movie. Everyone will be on a Star Wars high so I’m sure this game will sell really really well. Though I hope it doesn’t.

    Reply

    • James Anderton

      December 3, 2015 at 15:46

      I don’t see how EA thinks it’s going to sell another 10 million units just because of the movie.

      That’s being just a tad optimistic.

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        December 3, 2015 at 15:57

        It’ll probably get a bump over Xmas, and we won’t hear from it again unless they do something spectacular with DLC.

        Reply

      • Umar

        December 3, 2015 at 16:22

        Maybe, but we tend to underestimate the power of Star Wars and its fandom.

        Reply

        • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

          December 3, 2015 at 16:27

          I don’t know hey, I think George Lucas and Mannequin Skywalker killed the love for many. I have a few rabid Star Wars fans in my friend circle, and many of them have very little interest in the new movie. The weird thing is, I want to go see it (and I’m not really that into Star Wars – never were*).

          *I’m a Star Trek banana!

          Reply

    • Captain JJ 4x

      December 3, 2015 at 15:46

      I’ll just play some Battlefront II or Empire at War.
      Both are way better, even now.

      Reply

    • Jan Prins

      December 3, 2015 at 15:48

      To be honest, the way patches goes EA might still fix some of the issues that plague BF. I would love to give this game a bash. It sounds like fun, maybe a bit shallow for hardcore players’ likes and so on. Just now with the rand/dollar exchange rate I’m afraid my kidney is not getting as much Rands as I would like it to get

      Reply

      • Captain JJ 4x

        December 3, 2015 at 15:49

        I doubt there will be a SP patch coming anytime soon.
        So I’m out.

        Reply

        • Jan Prins

          December 3, 2015 at 15:52

          Yeah. I wonder if all the people that would love to see a Star Wars SP game would send a cupcake to EA how many cupcakes would they be swimming in…

          Reply

          • Captain JJ 4x

            December 3, 2015 at 15:56

            More than 13 million, that’s for sure.

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            December 3, 2015 at 15:57

            1313 million

          • HvR

            December 3, 2015 at 16:12

            They will figure out a way to screw up the perfectly good cupcakes being sent rather send them a dog turd.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            December 3, 2015 at 16:13

            We did. Twice. Even gold plated it.

          • HvR

            December 3, 2015 at 16:24

            Goddammit, I forgot.

            O well better start working on the third turd.

          • Jan Prins

            December 3, 2015 at 16:25

            The Third Turd… I see an espionage drama in the future, starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore…

          • HvR

            December 3, 2015 at 16:26

            Sell the rights of James Bond to EA and your vision will become a reality

  9. James Anderton

    December 3, 2015 at 15:44

    • oVg SOmaNY games

      December 3, 2015 at 15:50

      lol

      Reply

  10. Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

    December 3, 2015 at 15:45

    13…..WHY 13???

    #NevarrrForget1313

    Reply

    • oVg SOmaNY games

      December 3, 2015 at 15:50

      Oh shit.

      Reply

    • HvR

      December 3, 2015 at 16:24

      Fuckers are trolling us.

      Reply

  11. oVg SOmaNY games

    December 3, 2015 at 15:51

    • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

      December 3, 2015 at 15:52

      O_O

      Reply

      • Jan Prins

        December 3, 2015 at 15:55

        Dunno if I should applaud the guy or go bash his head in. How many hours did that take????

        Reply

    • Captain JJ 4x

      December 3, 2015 at 15:57

    • VampyreSquirrel

      December 3, 2015 at 16:06

      The loading time on this gif almost didn’t make it worth it… but it was still worth it.

      HOWEVER… how did a rubber kick ball survive being shot with a revolver?

      Reply

      • Jan Prins

        December 3, 2015 at 16:09

        The ball has been exposed to 200+ years of radiation… You can hear it scream as it’s shot…

        Reply

        • VampyreSquirrel

          December 3, 2015 at 16:12

          lol

          Reply

        • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

          December 3, 2015 at 16:16

          IT’S A SUPER MUTANT KICK BALL!!!

          Reply

        • Captain JJ 4x

          December 3, 2015 at 16:18

          LOL

          Reply

      • oVg SOmaNY games

        December 3, 2015 at 16:27

        It was coded by Bethesda. 😛

        Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      December 3, 2015 at 16:28

      DAFUQ DID I JUST WITNESS!!!!

      Reply

      • oVg SOmaNY games

        December 3, 2015 at 16:30

        sport

        Reply

  12. Alien Emperor Trevor

    December 3, 2015 at 15:55

    When does their financial year end? Dec 2017?

    Reply

    • Jan Prins

      December 3, 2015 at 15:56

      Ended in 1313…

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

        December 3, 2015 at 15:56

        STAHP!

        Reply

  13. HvR

    December 3, 2015 at 15:57

    Star Wars Battlefront is clearly evolving.

    Reply

  14. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    December 3, 2015 at 16:05

    It will be a success of modern-day gaming like Evolve and Titanfail were… snigger… snigger…

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      December 3, 2015 at 16:14

      hehe

      Reply

    • Jonah Cash

      December 3, 2015 at 16:38

      Titanfall is just amazeballs…. Yes I even used the word amazeballs just now to describe it! Maybe it is because I only got it and there were 5.8gigs worth of free maps but the game is really so much fun!

      Reply

  15. Aries

    December 3, 2015 at 16:38

    The Force Awakens will sell more bluray copies than Battlefront

    Reply

  16. WitWolfy

    December 4, 2015 at 07:18

    I’m calling it now.. Eventually EA is gonna get so desperate that they drop the price of the season pass dramatically or make it free altogether just get the numbers up.

    Reply

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