Ironically, System Shock 1 and 3 are the heavy hitters left in the pipeline. Crazy.
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Prey's debut sales in the UK seem quite low
- Thread starter Nirolak
- Start date
Ironically, System Shock 1 and 3 are the heavy hitters left in the pipeline. Crazy.
What trend?
grandwizard
Member
Also Consortium 2!
Baron_Calamity
Member
Rexatality
Member
Prey bouncing back to number 1 in UK sales for second week
I know the debbie downers will downplay this, though
I know the debbie downers will downplay this, though
Poimandres
Member
It's a solid hold percentage wise, but the numbers themselves aren't great. Still, I think the WOM around Prey is generally pretty good!
It dropped only 32% from it's week one sales that's a positive, no massive drop, but week 1 not being that impressive anyway sort of takes a bit of glean away from this good hold.
AnthonypUK
Member
its still less then 30,000 sold, which is still terrible.
Hoping for slow and steady sales; Arkane are putting out heavy hitters and I can't wait for the next project.
Don't know whether the lack of promotion behind it - coupled by the lack of build up from websites that didn't have early review copies - help their games though. Not sure how mass-appeal streamer/tuber friendly it is as a title either.
Don't know whether the lack of promotion behind it - coupled by the lack of build up from websites that didn't have early review copies - help their games though. Not sure how mass-appeal streamer/tuber friendly it is as a title either.
Rexatality
Member
Yup npretty much, Marketing is key, big marketing=big sales, that's why big games/company are big.
SolidSnakex
Member
It's odd that they didn't market it in Europe because I saw quite a few ads for it in the US leading up to the launch. They certainly at least tried here.
Huge Succeeded
Banned
This game deserves to be lauded like DOOM was. Tell yer friends yo
I only bought the game on GAF's recommendation, without spoiling myself, but if I had seen someone play through the intro... If I had seen someone else 'break the glass'... I would have shut the video off, and bought the game then and there. And it has not disappointed so far. Prey might have my favorite intro of any game I've ever played.
I only bought the game on GAF's recommendation, without spoiling myself, but if I had seen someone play through the intro... If I had seen someone else 'break the glass'... I would have shut the video off, and bought the game then and there. And it has not disappointed so far. Prey might have my favorite intro of any game I've ever played.
Not true. It's more of a chicken and egg problem. Marketing unquestionably helps but it won't create million sellers just because of it. Big companies make a few big AAA games that have mass market appeal, then they market the shit out of it to sell millions.
I disagree, marketing and hype created by good marketing can create million sellers, the quality of the product doesn't matter that much at the end, many mediocre game sells big because of it, No man Sky, FIFA series, Ass cred, Halo etc... when amazing games failed hard.
And it's especially true in cinema when bad/mediocre/ok movies are usually the most successful one, Suicide Squad, BvS, any Marvel movies beside GOTG series, Fast and Furious series, Star Wars 7/Rogue One etc...
toddhunter
Member
Big marketing also = big expenses which is why big games are generally mass market garbage so they can recoup the costs they spent to sell it.
There is nothing wrong with Prey's sales, assuming it was budgeted correctly. I would suggest anybody interested in a game where you don't automatically win, would know more than enough about it without needing a superbowl ad.
TheSpoiler
Member
You don't need a superbowl ad, but you need to be in front of people's faces. Dudes on GAF, a gaming enthusiast forum, had no clue Prey dropped when it did, and I'd hardly call them "people who want a game where they automatically win".
Furthermore, the notion that you need big marketing these days is silly. There's a middle ground with streamers, review copies, and other methods that don't necessarily rely on spending big bucks on billboards. Hell, even social media campaigns and display ads can gain pretty great results.
Prey barely had any of that. And I really doubt Bethesda is going to be happy with these sales in general.
Edit: And budgeted correctly is kind of a weird thing to say. Most games are budgeted correctly, but companies want to see a return. They aren't doing this to break even. They want to make a profit.
SirJackDaniels
Member
There will be discounts for Prey next week in certain EU regions. Sales are low.
toddhunter
Member
You need big marketing to sell garbage. You need famous actors, voices people have heard of etc.
You do not need marketing to sell a good game. Word will spread in seconds over the internet. I doubt very much that people on Gaf didn't know about prey, even just to bitch about no review copies. I also doubt that the general gaf gamer would want a game like it.
TheSpoiler
Member
I guess the Switch is garbage since it had a superbowl ad. Horizon? Put that shit on the list with all the marketing it had!
Nah, it doesn't work like that. There are tons of factors, and not every game with marketing is shit, nor is every good game going to spread and do well because of "word of mouth". There are tons of real examples that you can find, you just have to look!
Though you seem to have a predisposition in believing GAF to be unworthy of Prey's genius despite the glowing praise is received here, but hey, morph that narrative because the game wasn't handled correctly.
D
Deleted member 325805
Unconfirmed Member
I've not seen any marketing at all for it in the UK, I bought it because of this forum, I wouldn't have known about it otherwise.
InsaneTiger
Member
At least it was released.
FunkyDealer
Banned
Piss-poor marketing will do that. But I can see Prey having a long tail from word of mouth.
Poimandres
Member
Be happy the game is good!
This is only the UK anyway. Weren't PC numbers looking pretty good?
ISee
Member
About 200k now according to steam spy.
old manatee
Banned
Prey is being criminally slept on. It make a me so crazy.
BrettHeazy
Member
I'm just waiting for to be paid, then I'm all over this!
toddhunter
Member
I said you need marketing to sell garbage and this is true. You can also throw big marketing at something like the switch but that is just wasting money given everyone who wanted Zelda was buying it anyway. Marketing is irrelevant in that case.
Flip your argument around and throw a superbowl ad at Tyranny. Is it suddenly hitting COD numbers? No. Does that mean it was not handled properly? No, it just means it isn't a game designed just to sell to the targets of expensive marketing. Prey is just another such game.
That is also why it is good.
Primethius
Banned
That's not true. Sure marketing can add costs that require additional sales to recoup, but if you think that Prey is the sort of game that looks like it can recoup its budget with the sales its getting in UK, then I don't think you understand how low these numbers are.
It cannot be reiterated enough: Bethesda absolutely fucked over Arkane with their poor handling of the game.
And one can only hope that strong WoM and legs alleviate its poor opening.
Edit: And your example about Switch marketing...
Dude. Stop. Like what. Go look at Switch numbers versus past Nintendo consoles. Marketing absolutely played a part in its massive success.
Stripper13
Member
I know it's not UK, but the launch in Australia was terrible. Like, I saw zero marketing for it.
No one I spoke to knew anything about the game. Then the reviews came out and it was all of a sudden on the radar (including mine). However for some silly reason there was 'day one' pricing, where you could pick up the game for $59 AUD (or there abouts) on launch day.
However the reviews hadn't quite hit at that point, so I waited until the weekend. Lo and behold, the pricing was back up to $80+. Between the marketing, review embargo and launch day pricing - this has to be the worst launch I've seen in recent memory.
I feel like I have stepped in some bizarro world GAF thread. Do you think that MS did not spend a shit load of money advertising SO & QB? Or EA with TF2? Or Ubi with WD2, AC Unity and Syndicate?
Quit treating advertising as some sort of panacea. It is only part of the equation.
comshoplesce
Member
Messofanego
Banned
VanCityGamer
Member
While these Week 2 sales don't mean the game is suddenly a success, how can it be anything but a good sign? It finished #1 and didn't have a massive drop (albeit from a disappointing first week). Let's go from there and see what happens next week. Week #2 was a success.