MGS 4 Japanese Sales For June 12 To June 15 (4 days)

NeoGAF: Enterbrain numbers for June 12 to June 15 (4 days): 476,334

That number includes the regular edition, special edition, premium pack and the welcome box bundles. It is now the best selling PS3 game in Japan.

For reference, the first day numbers from Enterbrain not counting bundles was 300k (170k SE, 130k Regular). PS3 hardware for the week is 77,208 (Enterbrain numbers from the article as well).

For comparison, here are the first week figures for the MGS series in Japan, Enterbrain numbers:

MGS1 - 316,833
MGS2 - 456,747
MGS3 - 487,156

[sonarus]

That is pretty impressive despite the limited install base

[Hydrolex]

500,000 in Japan

1.5 Million in U.S

1 Million in Europe

3 Million totall ?

[PirateThom]

If all the Limited Edition versions sold, that's at least 250,000 in Europe anyway.

Either way, it's going to come out at well over 2 million, probably about 3.

[karlostomy]

Sold 3.7 million overall with 100 million ps2 install base.

What will MGSIV do?

[n4gzz]

PS3 players have track record that they buy game slowly and steady base than jumping on lunch day unlike 360. So, I am guessing MGS4 will sell over 3 million this year alone and over 4.5 million on its lifetime. We shall see high numbers for entire month before it slows down. PS3 is still very expensive with price tag 499 for 80 gb. It will fly off once price hits 299. This x-mas sony may cut $50 and with the selection of games that are releasing this year, PS3 might sell very well number and by the end of 2009 it will be 299 for 40gb then we will see sales like ps2.

[Syronicus]

Here's my take on the way the sales for this game will go. Many of the more casual MGS fans of last gen didn't buy MGS3 due to it not being a game released on a new system. Since many of them saw a MGS on the PS2, they were not expecting anything great. Also, with the slight let down of MGS2 not being completely Snake and more Raiden, they figured on other games and skipped over MGS3.

Now we have a new console with more power to play with and Kojima admitting to this being his overall masterpiece, and an ad campaign that makes some other games look like turds... You can say that I predict the sales of # 4 to be a tad bit higher than #2. I am guesing that we will see MGS4 hit between 7 and 8 million worldwide in the life of the game itself.

[she00win99]

did you know MGS1 sold 6M and MGS2 sold 7m?

[karlostomy]

Yes, I did know that. The numbers are readily available on numerous sites.

MGSI 6 mill
MGSII 7 mill
MGSIII 3.7mill

I wasn't speculating either way, as MGSIV undoubtedly deserves to do well.

But. Why did MGSIII take such a big dip when there were 100 million ps2 sold when it was released? It just don't make sense. (i did read your comment syronicus)

I will wait and see. My guess is 4.5 million mgsIV sold overall, given that there are (only) 13 mill ps3 out there now.

[Fallen_Angel]

wow after all the money they spent out on buying reviews the game is couldnt beat out mgs3 and that was worse one to date. Guess that makes mgs 4 now the worse one

[Drekken]

Fallen Angel, learn to speak before you post... k thx

[TOSgamer]

Yeah Konami bought reviews like MS did for Halo 3. Thats why all those sites were crying about Konami's nondisclosure agreement. Thats what normally happens when you pay people off. They make work extra hard to make you look bad. Get a grip on reality dude.

[nix]

i think MGS3 sell sounds less because "pirate" version was already available which sadly meant more people bought the pirated version for which there is no record. q:

[Ricegum]

I think its because MGS3 was nowhere near as good as MGS2. But thats just my opinion...I could never get into it, im going to go as far as saying it was a disappointment but MGS2 was just too good :)

MGS4 = Best game this gen

[CrazedFiend]

I've actually talked to quite a few of my gamer friends about this a while ago. A lot of people didn't buy MGS3 here in Japan because the story of MGS2 was so difficult to understand. Part 2's story actually chased a lot of Japanese gamers away from part 3. This is unfortunate because, although 2 is my personal favorite, I think MGS3 has a much easier to understand and, in that way, a better written story than 2 did.

Some of these friends I talked to have since played 3 and enjoyed the story MUCH better than 2. And a couple have even been eyeing the PS3 so they can play MGS4.

Pretty much everyone agrees MGS2 is a great game, but I think that if its story didn't get to be so difficult to understand, MGS3 would have sold MUCH better over here.

[karlostomy]

Well i hadn't considered that angle. Maybe there is something in it?

However, are you sure you realise the scale of what you are implying?
That would mean 3-4 MILLION units of MGSIII sales lost due to piracy.

I guess it's open to interpretation.

-----------
@unreal.... MGSIV seems to be one of the best games, yes. It WILL do very well.

[Isaac]

"Why did MGSIII take such a big dip when there were 100 million ps2 sold when it was released? It just don't make sense. (i did read your comment syronicus)"

Just because you don't understand it, it doesn't mean it makes no sense. If a game sells 3 million on a 10 million installed base, would you expect 30 million on a 100 million install base? Don't be ridiculous. I'll try to put it as simple as I can for you: When an install base reaches critical mass (around 100 million), it means the population has a diversity of interests, not that everyone wants every game, or that the same ratio of buyers at the beginning of the life of a console will be the same at the end.

There is something called saturation which means that once a gamer has tons of games they might just slow down their purchase rate; not always present, but it might just happen the way it happens with consoles with high install base; PS2 sells little not just because it's old, but because everyone has one. Nintendo DS is selling a third of what the PSP is selling in Japan because right now everyone has a DS in Japan, so the sales have kinda gone stale.

A similar case with attach rates for games, and that is something xbox fanboys fail to grasp, as they seem to think that attach rates are a good predictor of how a game will sell on 360 in comparison to PS3, see GTA4, DMC4, Virtua Fighter 5, Call of Duty 4, Assassin's Creed, among other examples. A high attach rate on games or consoles can be good or bad, as it could imply mostly hardcore gamers buy the console, or that the console isn't being adopted as fast as it should be (see how PS3 and Wii are outselling the 360 in every territory despite the fact that it is cheaper than PS3 and packs a lot more value than a Wii for a mere 30 bucks more).

Either way, attach rates are not good predictors, just like install base, so don't be surprised if Gears of War doesn't sell triple of what the original did. The original already sold A LOT, and it's likely that it'll sell to many of the people that bought the original, and a few new users. If it sells more than double the original, I'll be very surprised, especially since it's not gonna be the "revolution" the original was.

[chewy317]

LOL we have 3 articles on this.... stupid guy went to delete story so we cant use the source lol

[nofilter]

I was annoyed with all the dumb comments and reports!

[Hydrolex]

was the one who posted first, then removed it and now he made it again.

LOL but good because this one is more accurate

[Dir_en_grey]

You are the one keep on reporting it as dup.
I was doing the actual translating from the Famitsu site and had more info anyway, next time I won't waste my time finding a good pic =P
Either way I don't care about credits as long as the story is up.

[Chris Hansen]

476,334, Holy Crap! That means almost 1 out of every 4 PS3 owners bought MGS4. I can't wait for FFXIII numbers. I'm betting at least 500k PS3's sold in Japan the week it launches.

[cmrbe]

1 million

[green]

19 minutes ago | By: LenHart | User has been blocked
WHY HAVENT U COMMITTED SUICIDE
see what mGS4 did in JAPAN

it boosted PS3 sales by 700%

poor x360

what will be the US sales like BOT???

it is crying time for you

My response

0 minutes ago | By: green | Edit Delete
Re: WHY HAVENT U COMMITTED SUICIDE
Sorry cant commit suicide.Because i am too busy enjoying a 2 day holiday in Monte Carlo,also attended the Le mans 24 hours race this weekend in France where my team(Audi) won.All i have are my 2 close pals and my trusty laptop no games until i return to work on thursday.

I seriously advise you to let go off your hate and addiction to videogames.yes games are great but there is more to life than games and N4G.

MGS4 sold well, why shouldn't it?It's a great game.It proves that the videogame industry is really the greatest media industry in the world.Games like this and the rest of the AAA games that come out make me proud to be a gamer.

There is something seriously wrong with LENHART.

[Superfragilistic]

Tell me about it!

I blocked that idiot ages ago. He puts his 360 equivalent, PoG, to shame. lol

So jealous of your trip to Le Mans!

I agree with your philosophy. Be a gamer not a hater. :)

BACK OT:

As for MGS4, a great game and an important boost for the PS3 hardware, but early sales figures seem to suggest that it remains one for the fans and a generally hardcore niche title.

I think Hydrolex is in the ballpark with 3m worldwide. I'd personally guess at 2.5m, but we shall see. If MGS4 can reach 5m worldwide sales this year it will be deemed a great commercial success. It appears to be well on track! :)

[green]

I am predicting 3.6 million sales.When i do own a PS3 i hope to get this game.

As for the le mans trip, it was not that great.I had to stay in a tent since all hotels were booked and cant afford the expensive hotels because iam an international student in the Uk so i got to be carefull with funds.And worst off all it rained for a very long time.

[Elginer]

I thought I was the only person who received an insane PM from him. Good to know he's crazy as f*ck all over the place lol. Seriously were talking about video games here people- it's for entertainment not life and death topics.

I'll def be picking up a PS3 come Xmas, or maybe sooner and this is on my must have list as well as Folklore. I played and beat Folklore at a friends house and was just marveled by that game. It really doesn't get enough love.

[Mr_Luke]

Wow, that in 4 days? Then in a week it will get better than what did MGS1-2-3 according to me, without counting the rest of the world. Seems good, but i think it deserves more than that.

[supergamer]

hell yea thats very very impressive!!!

[Snukadaman]

77K in hardware...i was expecting at least 200K...at least...lets see if the coming weeks show sony domination..or it just blows away like a fart in the wind.

I wasnt talking about the install base kid...i was talking about how many consoles sold..smoke and mirrors again. I love how angry these people get..so defensive and looking to ridicule someone who brings valid points out.

[karlostomy]

Lol.. like a fart in the wind.
That's funny, Snuka...
I am waiting too. Will the Sony hype deliver?

Still, MGS IV is a great game. It deserves to do well.

[mikeslemonade]

Snukadaman, while i was reading the article i was thinking about how you made the prediction that the units would not sell well both software and hardware and now your still not admiting that these are good sales.

77,000 PS3 units is an 8 fold increase from around 9,000 PS3 units last week. And 476,000 software units to an install base of 2.13 million PS3 units in Japan, so almost 1 in 4 people bought MGS4 in Japan in 3 days.

Your just not being realistic Snuka. There's no game that can even have a 25 fold increase. Your probably too young to realize that or not smart enough. And why didn't you rag about 360 only increase like 2.5 fold when 360 only went from 2,500 units to 6,000 units with Ninja Gaiden 2.

[DontH8DPlayaH8DConsl]

to bad it would take ten months and final fantasy VIII port for the x box to reach those 77k in japan! Since we know final fantasy aint comin lets just say the xbox will sell 77k/year!

[Sir_Ken_Kutaragi]

It sold ZERO...on the xBox 360!!! ;-D

PS3+MGS4=HEAVEN!!! ;-P

[Xiru]

Not good? Lol, some people expect too much. The Wii hasn't even sold over 100k (besides launch month) a week in Japan and you expect the Ps3 to do that? Be realistic. These sales are FANTASTIC. a 700% increase is ridiculous. What other game has an attach ratio of 25%? It really is something amazing.

[Obama]

It's going to outsell the 360 entire install base in the comming weeks. How sad.

[Snukadaman]

I said those were good numbers...im not going to sit here and cheerlead for sony...and those ng2 numbers were low imo I expected 200-250K in the first week and it didnt reach those....for such a big game, we ALL expected higher console sales...I even brought out the charts for halo 3 how 3 weeks before sales for xbox was stuck at 93K a week...and for that release week of sept 29th the xbox sold 143K consoles..i was expecting at least 200-300K of ps3 sales...for all the hype and hyperbole its not hard to expect big sales. I think i was being quite realistic.

[Euphrate]

Of all PS3 owners in Japan.

[InMyOpinion]

That's impressive as h3ll.

Didn't Kojima-san say that in order to get their money back they needed MGS4 to sell more than 1 million copies on it's first day out? Maybe it has counting American and European sales also.

[Vojkan]

No he never said that, which Ryan Payton confirmed long time ago. just something idiots spread over internet and folks like you swallowed.

[InMyOpinion]

Thx for clearing that up.

Btw, what do you mean by 'folks like you'?

Please clarify.

[Syronicus]

As a rule of thumb, it is safe to say that any game these days requires a sale of about 1 million copies in order to break even or make a profit. Budgets on the games these days runs high. Also, we typically see possibilities for sequels when a game hits a million sold. It seems that a million is the magic number for games these days to make things happen further down the road and to be considered successful.

[Isaac]

Not all games require 1 million. The supposed average dev costs of a next-gen game are 20 million. However, that was probably at the beginning of the generation, since there are certain costs of transition when new platforms come out. Not only that, but some games re-utilized older engines or werent big or had high production values (See Koei), so there are several games below that "average". A game at retail costs 60 dollars, so it is safe to say that publishers get at least 45 out of that (though it is probably higher).

If 20 million is the total cost of the game, then half a million sales should amount up to 22.5 million, efectively giving you more than 10% profit on the project, which is very healthy. Some games cost less and do not require to sell as much. GTA reportedly cost 100 million because it had a huge development team and it took 4 years to finish. On the other hand, little big planet has a significantly smaller team than the average, so it is probably not costing a lot. Even if it does not sell half a million it would probably make a profit (though I do hope it sells in the millions to encourage further development of those kinds of games)

[Kenshin_BATT0USAI]

@ Jenzo, he just meant gamers who look on the internet for gaming info.

[JoelR]

to show developer's require at least 60$ a game on the x/ps and a min of 500,000 games sold to break even and over a million to make money on a normal development budget:

http://www.igda.org/columns...

500,000 copies to break even at 60$ a game on developmental price of 8.6 million

Development cost ~ 17.20/unit
Publisher Overhead ~
Marketing ~ 10/unit
Cost of Goods ~ 6/unit
Sony Platform Fees ~ 15% gross or 7% if exclusive
Amortization of cancelled projects ~??? depends on each company

No royalties paid until all of the $8.6 million in development costs had been recouped at the developer's effective royalty rate.
Even if that rate, net of all reductions, is a generous $8 per unit, over 1 million full price copies must be sold for the developer to recoup
And that is why 60$ a game is and will be for this generation the normal price for a PS3 game.

Profit margin ~ 1-3% to publisher, 1-3% to developer, 1-3% Distributor , 11% Retailer

(many titles cost much more then 8.6 million to develop)

----------------------------- --------------------
information as per the IGDA (International Game Developers Association)
http://www.igda.org/

----------------------------- ------------------------------- --------

Dec. OXM, the breakdown for a 360 game that sells 500,000 goes like this.

Retailer Cut: $12
Microsoft licensing and manufacturing: $12
Marketing: $7
Development: $20
Publisher overhead: $9
= $60.

----------------------------- ------------------------------- --------

Do you know publishers only make 1 dollar per game?
http://www.google.ca/search...

Art/Design: 25% (about $15)

The rippling oceans, expressive faces and explosive action sequences gamers want to see don't come cheap. Publishers pay millions for computer-generated graphics, animation and motion-capture talent. "It's just like making a movie," says ABI Research's Michael Wolf.
Programming And Engineering: 20% (about $12)

This expense includes the gaming "engine"--the software equivalent of a game's guts--which can be bought, developed in-house or licensed, such as Epic's Unreal engine. Also included: artificial intelligence programs, online game-play systems, video compression software and "localization" for international markets. Engineering and development costs can quickly escalate when publishers agree to port a game title to an additional platform--and most of them now have to do so, notes ABI Research's Wolf. Some third-party developers secure deals to receive a cut of royalties based on how well a game sells.
Retail: 20% ($12)

Most games wholesale for about $48, giving retailers like EB Games, or Best Buy $12 of markup; at best, a dollar of that may drop to the store's bottom line.
Console Owner Fee: 11.5% (about $7)

This is why Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo are laboring so mightily to make their machines to success: Each gamemaker that wants to roll out a new title has to fork over a fee for each unit sold. This may vary per console maker--some publishers say creating games for the PlayStation 3 is more expensive because of fees Sony charges to use its Blu-Ray DVD standard. "But that number can get smaller depending on the publisher's status," says Peer Schneider, vice president of content publishing at IGN, News Corp.'s gaming portal. "The fee can be waived for exclusivity to a platform--that will buy you a kickback."
Marketing: 7% (about $4)

The game marketing budget is smaller if a game belongs to a well-known franchise, such as one of Activision's Tony Hawk titles, or can benefit from the marketing extravaganza tied to a movie budget (like Activision's Spiderman games). But good luck trying to market a brand new game concept. "To say, 'This is our new universe that you've never heard of,' that'll pile on additional marketing costs," says Luke Smith, news editor of Ziff Davis Media's gaming site 1up.com.
Market Development Fund: 5% (about $3)

It's not just enough to end up on a retailer's shelf--if you want good placement, or a spot in a retailer's advertising, you'll have to pay up again. This includes paid placement for print circulars, banner ads and highlights within a retailer's TV spot.
Manufacturing Costs, Packaging: 5% (about $3)

Blu-Ray discs might cost more, and so will collectible "special edition" sets. Otherwise, this amount covers the blank DVD media, the game imprinting, the sturdy plastic case and the included instruction manual.
Licensing: 5% (about $3)

From athletes and sports leagues to Marvel characters and movie studios, if a game title takes its name and plot from a well-known pop culture icon, publishers can expect to pay top dollar for the licensing rights. Headlining voice talent, such as Marlon Brando in Electronic Arts' The Godfather game, may even receive a percentage of retail revenues; unnamed voice actors and musicians get a flat fee. Costs vary widely here. For original-concept games, this cost is zero.
Publisher profit: 1.5% (about $1)

After all other parties--including the in-house or outsourced development teams--have been paid, the publisher collects about a buck toward the bottom line. As these pricey consoles become more mainstream, those dollars will add up.
Distributor: 1.5% (about $1)

If a small publisher wants to reach mass audiences, or a large publisher wants to sell to a small-time retailer, they'll need help from a game distributor, such as Ingram Entertainment.
Corporate Costs (quantitative analysis, management overhead): 0.3% (about 20 cents)

Number crunching is cheap, says Sega of America president Simon Jeffrey. Lawyers are not. But publishers need to pay all of them. And if they find themselves in legal trouble--as Take-Two Interactive did when it had to defend its Grand Theft Auto game's racy content in federal court--this number will shoot way up.
Hardware development costs: 0.05% (less than 3 cents)

Before a game developer can begin its craft, it must have access to the hardware the game will run on. For Xbox 360 and PS3 games, engineering teams pay tens of thousands for access to developers' kits and demo units--some of which get destroyed in the process.

[Isaac]

JoelR, the data you talk about is old and probably inaccurate.

"
Retailer Cut: $12
Microsoft licensing and manufacturing: $12
Marketing: $7
Development: $20
Publisher overhead: $9
= $60. "

Uh, you are mentioning costs per disc, despite the fact that most of these costs are fixed and sales are variable. The more you sell, the less marketing, development, and overhead it is per disc, since the costs are fixed, and revenues are not. Most of what you posted is wrong in that way so I will not bother with all. Even more, costs of Marketing, Publishing, licensing and manufacturing, and overhead are way lower on exclusives. For example, it is highly unlikely that Sony charged MGS4 Licensing and Manufacturing, and that Marketing is on Sonys side more than it is on Konamis. Sony probably bankrolled part of the project too. So yeah, I doubt that what you say is accurate. Lost planet cost 20 million to make and 20 million to market, but publishing and licensing was probably free.

"Do you know publishers only make 1 dollar per game?"

Again, why do you take everything you read for granted? If that was true then companies would not be as big as they are. Anyway, if all games needed to sell a million or more, the industry would be in deep sh1t, and that is not the case.

[JoelR]

Info relates to breakeven point
that is at 500K discs they don't break even but at 1 million they do...
The costs per game/disc are those at the 1 million dollar mark.

[LTC]

Excellent numbers considering the PS3 install base in Japan compared to PS2. MGS4 476,334 with an install base of 2.5 million. MGS3 487,156 with install base of 20 million. Now snuka why dont u just do us all a favour and blow away like a fart in the wind.

Edit// Remember these are sales for 4 days.

[Vojkan]

I think MGS4 will sell great but will it beat sales of MGS1 and MGS2 which were around 7 million each? Not sure about that.But aroun 6 million i think it is very possible.
The reason why MGs3 didnt sell well was because many were disappointed with MGS2 and the way fans were tricked to play with raiden + pirating on PS2 at that point exploaded and most of folks i knew already moded thier PS2. But that cant happen to MGS4, it doesnt have to fear piracy which is not possible at the moment on PS3 and it is best F/ing MGS game EVER!

[juuken]

Impressive so far.

[Wildarmsjecht]

Soo in 4 days, it's almost outsold the 360's total hardware in Japan alone? Lulz!

Still, people like Snuka and PoG will be all " Oh, not as much as it should have been! SO YOU LOZEZRZ!" Great game, Great sales for only 4 days considering the past ones had roughly the same with a higher install base.

[nizza]

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that the turn out for the MGS4 release in tokyo at least was not as big as expected as there had been a stabbing. A pretty big deal in over there when they've had a good few years with an amazingly low crime rate. Pretty sure that the numbers would have been higher had that not happened

[B-Rein]

yeh that did happen and konami was gonna have a release date exhibition or something they canceled that as well, due to the stabbing

[Gaara_724]

no one can deny about mgs4 is it has the best fight scene in the world in it snake vs liquid at the end i have never seen something that intence in a fight scene it was ace

[Bladestar]

mmm... sounds like a about right and it's in par with previous Metal Gear... lots of people got upset when I said this game wouldn't sell like GTA or a mass market game do to the game not being mass market but with a very specific demographic in mind... the same will be the case in other regions.

[shine1396]

its selling eight times more console's in japan...define mass market? if you look at GTA sales worldwide opening week, this isn't too far behind...its selling better then singstar in europe, COD4 around the world and well GT prolouge as well...add a whole host of games of that calibre...Or are you measuring it to a different yardstick? i.e. 360 and halo.

[Kyur4ThePain]

How many copies did GTA4 sell in Japan?

[Martini]

What is the big fuss about ? H4 sold like 3 mil on the opening day in the US.

[Testo]

Obviously it sold due to the hype.

I have yet to "Finish the fight"

I made it to the 2nd level involving the flood then I restarted because it was too easy on Normal.

I'm going back through on Hard now but its just not enough for me to want to continue playing.

Online is where Halo glows.

[Testo]

Can people help out with bubbles? I don't know why I keep getting hit so bad. =)

[tk]

People were waiting for this game. Sales will be around 2.5M in first week. Most probably around 7M lifetime. It deserves to be an over 10M seller. For those still wondering - this game is great. Get it while its hot.