310°

Sea of Thieves Selling Well Proves That Game Pass Won’t Negatively Impact First-Party Sales

With Sea of Thieves selling well, Andrew from Xbox Enthusiast talks about how being a part of Xbox Game Pass didn't negatively affect sales like he thought it would. Instead, the success of Rare's latest game makes him think that future first-party titles will be just fine (sales wise) despite being a part of Xbox Game Pass.

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xboxenthusiast.com
PhoenixUp2599d ago

It could negatively impact the quality of some first party games though since XGP assures that many gamers will still play the game regardless of how well polished it is

Heelix2599d ago (Edited 2599d ago )

Nawh
I think that's a bit of a reach there.

That doesn't make sense at all.

In this case you're reaching for the stars.

UCForce2599d ago (Edited 2599d ago )

Oh really ? Why Sea Of Thieves didn’t send out early copy to reviewer ? You can tell Microsoft have no confidence on their production. State of Decay 2 will be next.

2599d ago
Kribwalker2599d ago

@Ucforce
Because the servers weren’t live. Why would you send it out when you can’t play it yet?

UCForce2599d ago

@kribwalker I know that. But seriously, it’s like MS have no confidence on their production. People was going say SoT supposed to be Xbox System seller, but it ended up disappointing like No Man Sky. And Kraken have no body, WTF ?

Goldby2599d ago

@Krib

so what stopped Ms and Rare from turnign on the servers say a week early for reviewers and influencers?

Dragonknight662599d ago

@UCForce

Wait, the Kraken don't have a body?? So what was Rare developing and working on all these years? That's unacceptable

Ashlen2599d ago

@Kribwalker

What you said doesn't hold water.

First off i'm pretty sure the servers were still available for certain testers. Second they could have easily opened them up for review copies. And third they could have simply allowed them to make reviews based on the beta.

But at the end of the day it didn't matter the game reviewed poorly regardless of Microsoft's attempt to hide it's unfinished nature.

DJStotty2599d ago

My review copy was the 4/5 alpha/beta tests I utilized, didn't need to be sent one lmao

TheCommentator2599d ago (Edited 2599d ago )

@ UCForce

To add to Kribwalker's point there was already a beta that people played the hell out of, plus Rare stated what was going to be in the game at launch and what they'd planned for post-release. It was all out in the open for anyone to see, which is why the game is still successful in spite of all of the backlash from reviews and people posting in forums around the net like you.

j15reed2599d ago

@UCForce the beta was practically what was released so I don't understand the early copy statement.

Wasabi2599d ago

@UCForce

***"Why Sea Of Thieves didn’t send out early copy to reviewer ?"***

They did run about 9 million Alpha and Beta tests UC.

Be fair, the game is not great but it's not terrible either, it needs some more content but lets not pretend that the game doesn't have some redeeming features. The scores it got were fair, hopefully in time more content will be added and the game will evolve into something better in the same way No Mans Sky is a far better game today than it was at release.

TheSaint2598d ago

people who are starved will eat anything.

+ Show (9) more repliesLast reply 2598d ago
Lennoxb632599d ago

You could say the same for free to play games.

dirkdady2599d ago

They are jumping the gun here a bit. If it completely falls off the npd this month then I wouldn't call it a success.

porkChop2599d ago

I don't know if I buy that. If first party devs don't push for quality, and instead pump out garbage on purpose, that would deter people from subscribing to XGP. Just think about it, why would anyone sub to a service that gives them bad games? That wouldn't make any sense.

I'm not saying Xbox won't release poorer quality games. They still could. I just doubt that XGP would directly have anything to do with that.

yellowgerbil2599d ago

Think of it like the will Smith movie bright, straight to Netflix didn't cause that movie to be garbage, but it serving as an alternative to theaters means there is now a place for trash to be dumped, just like game paas

j15reed2599d ago

So let me get this right SOT with the water and the technical side didn't take much to make? I agree more content could have been there at launch but the game is beautiful and a huge undertaking to make something like it.

Thatguy-3102599d ago

Selling well? Are numbers out? Or are they basing it off chart positions?

mark_parch2598d ago

all it proves to me is people didn't realise what they were buying

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 2598d ago
2599d ago Replies(3)
FallenAngel19842599d ago

A barebones game like Sea of Thieves finding huge commercial success when feature rich Rare Replay did not is a bad sign for the future of Rare as a developer. This could very well be a sign for them to further stop making the games that they used to and make unfinished GaaS titles.

Hell it shouldn’t be an encouraging sign for any future Microsoft title.

2599d ago Replies(6)
maybelovehate2599d ago

Rare replay was just a package of BC games. Many of which we already owned. I love Rare's games but there was no way I would buy it. Especially when Microsoft added all those games to BC.

trooper_2599d ago

I hope no other company follows this crap model.

chris2352599d ago

this thing sold well? is this all it takes theses days? and people are wondering why they are getting an empty shell instead of a full fledged game? wow.

DJStotty2599d ago

It sold well because it is fun to play. You should try it out with the free game pass trial and see what you think

2599d ago
trooper_2599d ago

It's fun to play in 'your opinion'.

Critics didn't think so.

DJStotty2598d ago

thats why they are called critics, and not praisers

yomfweeee2598d ago

It sold well at the beginning cause it was hyped for years and they made false promises.

It won't hold up.

DJStotty2598d ago

what were the false promises?

yomfweeee2598d ago

They said the beta was only a fraction of what the game would offer. That was a complete lie, it was nearly everything.

corroios2599d ago

Yes it does, because of the last news. Half of the players are over after the 14 day of trial.

2599d ago
2599d ago
Show all comments (73)
180°

Report: Sea of Thieves PS5 Sales Surpass 1 Million

Sea of Thieves, the pirate-themed game from Rare, has reportedly surpassed one million copies sold on the PS5 per a new report.

Jin_Sakai296d ago (Edited 296d ago )

Yea, we’ll be seeing plenty more Xbox exclusives head to PlayStation..

just_looken296d ago (Edited 296d ago )

Just like sony tossing horizon on the switch xbox also sees the potential to double dip for sure.

I do not see xbox past next gen i think in the 2030's xbox will be just a publishing company if not next gen if you look at there console sales it would make sense to also not toss a console out next gen and just focus on software as they are making way more cash on software than hardware.

Now halo on the switch/ps5 hmmm

pwnmaster3000296d ago

Horizon the switch?

Are you talking about the Lego horizon game lol.
Totally different situation.

just_looken296d ago

@pwnmaster3000

Right because sony?

please enlighten us on how sony giving out there best recent ip to another platform is different then xbox putting there ip on other platforms.

Profchaos296d ago

Yeah it'd be crazy not to release horizon Lego on the switch those Lego games sell gangbusters on switch

DodoDojo296d ago

Xbox have been on the decline, Sony can comfortably run their businesses without relying on other systems for revenue. That's the difference.

just_looken296d ago

@DodoDojo

So there huge push to go multi-plat had nothing to do with there failing revenue?

Look at the spike after they tossed there ip's around and the pc sales of there games
https://companiesmarketcap....

Even sony knows were the cash is

@Profchaos

Oh for sure they spent $0 on making the game but will get some great check's in the mail that game is going to sell so well on that platform then they will toss it on switch 2 and or consoles got to have that double dip.

Gamingsince1981296d ago (Edited 296d ago )

Herp derp , maybe if it was actually horizon and not a lego game you might have a point but alas.

-Foxtrot296d ago

There’s no way Lego would make a game for them using one of their IPs and keep it exclusive

It was probably we either release it on the Switch or we don’t do it

If they did a Horizon spin off game for Switch with one of their own first party studios then fair enough, but it’s not. It’s Lego.

pwnmaster3000296d ago

Because it’s a Lego game and not actually one of the main game in the series. Compare to what MS is doing, it’s vastly different.

Now are they going to start releasing games to other platform. Maybe, but to the extent like MS. Who knows, but as of right now, comparing that move to what MS is doing is reaching so much.

DodoDojo296d ago

Man we have games skipping Xbox because the sales numbers aren't worth the time and the difficulties of dealing with the Series S, why in the world would Sony release their games on Xbox?

Christopher296d ago

That first sentence is a horrible argument. Makes no sense and feels like an attempt to shove Sony into this conversation at all.

I think Xbox will try their best to keep hardware around, but it won't be like it is now. I think they'll go all digital and go with a middle-line hardware and not a heavy pusher like the Series X. Something that will play games slightly better than Series X but will have a lot of built-in storage space.They'll, if possible, eat as much of that cost as possible to come under the PS6 in price by as much as possible, but the PS6 will, IMHO, be more powerful, because Sony relies on hardware to maintain their market and will keep it like that until there is no other option.

S2Killinit296d ago (Edited 296d ago )

@just_lookin
You are trying too hard to make it seem like both are doing the same thing. They are not. No buts or ifs about it.

On this topic:
I never played SOT, but its interesting that this game started off as a flop and built up to a relatively successful gaas game.

just_looken295d ago

This site is nuts

So sony tosses there games on pc gives out there ip to other companies for other platform's something they never have done in the past a ip only ps4 had in the past that is normal 0 issues.

Xbox tosses there game on a ps device we must stop the press flip the couch and go on about xbox for weeks.

Man trump needs to hire everyone here for his campaign/trials you all get him back in that chair asap.

PassNextquestion295d ago

If Microsoft wants Gamepass to succeed they need to keep putting out Xbox's. Otherwise they only other place you will see Gamepass is on PC'S, TV'S and Amazon Prime Sticks

295d ago
+ Show (11) more repliesLast reply 295d ago
1Victor296d ago

I see what PlayStation players are doing with the long con of buying “Xbox exclusive games “ by over a million in less than 4 months to incentivize Microsoft to put all their games on day one on PlayStation and kill the Xbox console. 🤣
.
BTW
It’s a JOKE. don’t take personally obscured orchard crew

Tacoboto295d ago

Where they'll feel better with DualSense, load faster with the better SSD, and be accessible to more than 2x the console playerbase.

At least Hellblade 2 may come to a platform with a controller that can give its immersion the full respect it deserves. World-class tech for audio and visuals but stuck on an input that's been static since 2005...

just_looken295d ago

https://store.steampowered....

Hellblade 2 is on steam you know a computer were you can use any controller and have great audio.

Are you saying that the ps5 is the only console or device that has ever seen sound past stereo?

A ps5 is the only device to have a fast nvme ssd?

Input sense 2005? umm haptic tech has been around sense 1976
https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

There is nothing a ds5 does that has not been done before somewere else even price gouging that was apple but now sony does that and crappy battery life man i miss ds3 battery life.

Tacoboto295d ago

You're pathetic and weird, stop with your strawman arguments and need to be antagonistic about everything.

I own the game on Steam and play it with DualSense on there but the features of DualSense are best on PS5 natively. I'm not saying that to refer to the controller speaker only, but the haptics especially *and* having those enhanced haptics wirelessly.

Obscure_Observer295d ago

"Yea, we’ll be seeing plenty more Xbox exclusives head to PlayStation.."

Indeed. And sell even more.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 295d ago
Vits296d ago

Makes sense. The game sold 5 million copies on Steam and had 30 million players in 2022. So it does have a hook; what it needed to sell on PS was essentially just to be available there.

just_looken296d ago

Does it not have crossplay also? so that too helps

just_looken296d ago

For those not pissed off i mentioned cross play i looked it up and it does have it
https://www.seaofthieves.co...

So people playing for a long time on xbox/pc can join up with people that only have a ps5 that is a nice feature witch again helps with sales.

ocelot07295d ago

It's also cross progression. When it first released in 2018. I bought my self the limited edition controller that came with a code for some unique clothing. I didn't like the game back in 2018 it was bland and empty. When I bought it during a sale on Steam in 2021 I was able to continue on where I left off in 2018 with the things I unlocked as well as my dlc outfit.

Forward to 2024 when I got it on ps5. I again could continue on from pc and still access my Xbox dlc from 2018 and I then got a exclusive playstation sail set.

just_looken295d ago

@ocelot07

That is cool what a great/rare feature to bad all games do not have that.

So no wonder it is selling well if a 2018 player can grab it on his/her ps5 then continue were you left off.

SlothLordPootus296d ago

Honestly less than I would've expected based on the buzz around release, but still a great milestone.

P_Bomb295d ago

That’s a great number after only a couple months.

295d ago
390°

Sea of Thieves lost 58% of its PS5 player base in a single month

Sea of Thieves seems to be experiencing a significant PS5 player count drop with over 50% of the Microsoft live-service game's player base no longer playing.

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truetrophies.com
shinoff2183365d ago

Couple things with this. I'm sure it's fairly common even on online games. My second point. Summer just started so alot of people getting outside, family trips, etc.

LoveSpuds365d ago

Bit early to suggest it's summer/holiday season for the likes of UK, Europe etc. July and August maybe, but not quite yet.

shinoff2183364d ago

From my perspective(u.s.) it's definitely summer and I imagine that's where a majority of players are. I know Europe and the UK ain't no punks and they game to though.

Kornholic364d ago

That's BS. June, July and August are the months for summer holidays.

-Foxtrot365d ago (Edited 365d ago )

Yeah...in the UK once we get a single ray of sunshine or get some warm weather we are out there to the beer garden like there's no tomorrow. We cherish the sun we get XD

Still early days though, it won't probably pick up until mid July at this rate.

Rainbowcookie364d ago

Where in the UK do you live Foxtrot?

-Foxtrot364d ago

Newcastle....so faaaaaar North

THE REAL NORTH :3

LucasRuinedChildhood365d ago (Edited 365d ago )

Yeah. Most people will buy a game, play it for a bit and then put it down for good or come back later. It's completely normal.

And most people don't even finish games (most teams would be quite happy with a 35-40% completion rate).

I'm personally not interested in Sea Of Thieves but it's important to be objective. The game is currently the #11 best selling game on the PS Store and was in the top 5 for weeks.

porkChop364d ago

This happens with literally every online game. They always see a significant drop in players after a few weeks. I don't understand why it keeps getting reported every time like it's some random occurrence. People constantly move from one game to the next. It isn't a new concept.

Rainbowcookie364d ago

Also many have a backlog of good games waiting in the wings. Time for the hard workers are limited, so you have to prioritize

Hotpot364d ago

The woe of GaaS, they have to fight for playtime against literally every other activity people do on their free time. With non GaaS you can just enjoy what they have to offer, whenever you want to, and move on.

Abear21364d ago

Kids don’t go outside in the US so that’s no excuse here. You see the news out here? Plus they can’t talk to people, maybe that’s the problem w Sea of Thieves, it requires human interaction lol

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 364d ago
CrimsonWing69365d ago

I don’t know how they expect to flood the market with these GaaS games and expect them to be successful. This seems to be the case, it’s rare for player engagement to be consistent like a Fortnite.

GamerRN364d ago

Didn't HellDivers lose a fair percentage of players? They only benefitted from the slow burn and show growth. Sea of Thieves didn't sneak up on anyone, and probably got a large Flux of players and 50 percent staying around is a pretty good number if you ask me

Tedakin364d ago

Helldivers is down 400 thousand players on Steam since launch. It's been dropping fast since the PSN debacle.

Zeke68364d ago (Edited 364d ago )

@Tedakin
Stop lying.
https://n4g.com/news/260442...
"According to Steamdb, on June 12th, before the 01.000.400 update, Helldivers 2 peaked at just 49,125 players on PC, one of the lowest peaks ever seen in the game’s history. However, on June 13th following the most recent update, the PC player count increased by over 86%, peaking at 91,692 players. "

Zeref364d ago (Edited 364d ago )

Sea of Thieves is very successful. It probably lost that many because it just released and blew up on playstation and most people won't play it long term. Same thing happened with Helldivers 2. It had almost 500 thousand consecutive players at release and then shortly after it lost half of that. It's normal.

CrimsonWing69364d ago

Isn’t the point of GaaS to, like Y’know, keep people playing it consistently while generating recurring revenue through microtransactions designed around walls of progression and battle passes?

How does that translate with multiple GaaS games? A few I get, but let’s not beat around the bush the industry is still focused on these over traditional because according to them if a AAA game is volatile no matter what, might as well go for the model that leeches on the wallets of the consumers.

I hate these types of games. I think the only one I actually enjoyed was Diablo 4 and that already grosses me out with the monetization.

It’s just whenever I see most articles about GaaS titles it’s like 80% on how they’re a failure and it blows my mind that the industry is adamant about shoving these down our throats. Honestly, it feels like they’re going to war with us by continually pushing these out.

Jin_Sakai365d ago

It’s a pretty and very boring game at the same time.

RaiderNation365d ago

Been saying this for years. People who love this game must be easily entertained.

-Foxtrot365d ago

I think if the game launched with what it has today I still don't think it would have gotten the best reviews. Better sure but nothing outstanding.

When you have a game that's set the bar so low at launch, the only way is up so everything looks 10 times better.

Zeref364d ago

If it wasn't it wouldn't be popular and topping the playstation charts right now

anast364d ago

Sea of Thieves is 22nd and falling according to time tracker. Not really a chart topper.

364d ago
Einhander1972363d ago

Sea of Thieves' PS5 Player Count is Crashing
https://gamerant.com/sea-of...

Sea of Thieves on PS5 has already lost 58% of players since its launch in April.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 363d ago
ThinkThink365d ago

This also seems like a good candidate for ps+

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140°

Sea Of Thieves Tops Monthly PlayStation Charts, What Does It All Mean?

Sea Of Thieves takes the gaming world by storm, becoming the unexpected best-seller on PlayStation. Find out how it happened.

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gamersocialclub.ca
365d ago Replies(2)
piroh365d ago

It means there is more to come

With the voice of duke nukem guy
"Come get some"

Knightofelemia365d ago

What does it mean? It means that Microsoft can make money putting exclusives on other consoles. No different then Sony putting Playstation exclusives on PC. Just means more revenue and opening the doors to new gamers to enjoy a decent game.

ChasterMies365d ago

It means Xbox exclusives are disappearing.i don’t think it’ll be too long before we see Game Pass exclusives. Renting games has more profit potential than selling games.

LG_Fox_Brazil365d ago

That makes no sense, a full retail game here in my country costs 300 bucks (70 dollars) and a single month subscription gift card can be bought by 20 bucks (5 dollars). If I have no option and want to play the new Gears of War I'll pay 300 bucks, but if I have the option to just rent I can play it and complete it for US$ 5... The company is potentially not earning US$ 65 from me... I am paying around 7% of a full profit. Do you understand what I mean? Renting does not make more profit than selling at all

Shane Kim365d ago

If it did, they wouldn't need to put their own games on Playstation.

mudakoshaka365d ago

For those who replay games, buying is the better option. But those who play games once, just buy a 1 month subscription and play the game.

Goodguy01365d ago

So PS fans do want mcsft exclusives after all, funny lol. As much as fanboys act that they don't care about other platforms' exclusives, they indeed want them too.

Ristul365d ago (Edited 365d ago )

Sure, we can take some more exklusives, can't complain.

ChiefofLoliPolice365d ago

"Sea of Thieves lost 58% of its PS5 player base in a single month"

Think you spoke a bit too soon partner.

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